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Should the Democratic House work with Republicans? | Democrats officially control the House of Representatives, with a healthy majority of 235 out of 435 total seats. They inherit an opposition-controlled Senate and an in-progress government shutdown. Some hope the Democrats -- many of whom swept into power on the strength of their fiercely liberal agendas -- will move more toward the center in order to pass more legislation and better run the country. Others see this as a chance for Democrats to push back on President Donald Trump's conservative agenda. PERSPECTIVES The Democrats are currently in a brutal fight with the president over passing legislation to fund the government. Trump is insisting on the inclusion of over $5 billion to fund the construction of a border wall, which Democrats refuse to add. As the resultant government shutdown drags on, newly reelected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has shown no indication she will do anything other than stand firm against Trump's border wall agenda. Per the New York Times: In her first legislative act as speaker, Ms. Pelosi plans on Thursday to bring up two bills to reopen the government. One would fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8, providing a month to break the impasse over border security funding, and a second would provide money for the remaining shuttered agencies and departments through September. The homeland security measure would devote $1.3 billion to border security measures, such as enhanced surveillance and fortified fencing, but not the wall. Mr. Trump's rejection of those measures left the prospects of a resolution at their dimmest since the shutdown began on Dec. 22. It also highlighted the difficulty of the current situation, in which Democrats, Republicans and even some White House staff members have found themselves trying to anticipate what Mr. Trump will accept. Many see the election of so many liberal representatives as a clear sign the American people are looking for leaders who will fight back against the conservative agenda that has been pushed for the last two years. Per the Hill: "Americans overwhelmingly voted for Democratic control of the House to put a check on Trump on exactly this kind of reckless behavior," said Charles Chamberlain, chairman of Democracy for America, a grass-roots liberal advocacy group. "Democrats need to stand up for American values and a check on Trump, over and over again, as many times as they have to, to defeat the worst policies of this administration," he said. "That's what we're expecting them to do and if there's brinksmanship from Trump that causes damage to America, that's on Trump." Democratic activists see the current standoff over the border wall as a key test ahead a year of expected conflict with Trump on other issues, such as the debt ceiling and the new trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, Pelosi has made it clear she has no intention of becoming an opposition party like the Republicans who fought tooth and nail against all of President Obama's policy initiatives for so many years. The Washington Post reports that in several statements made shortly before she regained the speakership, Pelosi stated her party would not fight blindly against everything the president does. "We believe that we will not become them," she said in a New Year's Day phone interview during a visit to her native Baltimore. "We're not going to do to them what they did to President Obama. . . . It's really important for us not to become them and certainly not to become like the president of the United States in terms of how he speaks without any basis of fact, evidence, data or truth. "We will respect each other's opinions, and respect the truth." ...Pelosi also pushed back hard against the idea that, in holding Trump and his administration accountable, Democrats would be engaging in some sort of investigative orgy. On the contrary, she said, Article I of the Constitution grants Congress responsibility for "oversight over the agencies of government." She added pointedly: "We don't want the administration describing the traditional congressional responsibility for oversight to be labeled 'investigation.' There may be some investigations that spring from another purpose, but we will be strategic and not political when it comes to that." She senses no need to explain or elaborate on the meaning of the words "another purpose," even though they represent a potentially mortal threat to Trump's presidency. OPINION: Pelosi vows that House Democrats won't act like Republicans Recent history has also shown that a blind opposition to the president can backfire. Per Bloomberg: Even in very polarized times, win-win deals are still possible in Congress; just last month, Democrats and Republicans cooperated on criminal justice reform. House Democrats could give in to some Republican priorities in exchange for, say, citizenship for DACA recipients or an increased minimum wage. During Barack Obama's presidency, Republicans were willing to lose on their own policy preferences as long as they could keep the Democratic administration from chalking up wins. One might argue that their choice was good for the party, even if it was bad for the nation. We'll see what the Democrats do. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/should_the_democratic_house_wo.html |
Could Nick Foles' magic convince Eagles to change long-term plans? | originally appeared on nbcsportsphiladelphia.com I'm going to be honest. I'm wavering. Just a bit. And I wonder if Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson are wavering, too. I wrote last week that the only clear path for the Eagles to take long-term was to ride Foles for the rest of this year and then wish him well and turn the team over to Wentz (see story). And I still think that's a really sound option. You have a 25-year-old MVP candidate who'll be healthy next year, and even this year, while held back by injuries, still had the seventh-highest passer rating in football. Wentz can play. And he's going to have success wherever he plays. And it'll probably be here. But I have to admit, watching Foles complete 25 straight passes Sunday in Washington and lead the Eagles to a commanding 24-0 win over the Redskins in a game the Eagles had to win, I found myself wondering, "Do I really want to get rid of this guy?" Foles has already had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history, back in 2013. He's thrown an NFL-record seven TDs in a game. He's led the Eagles on a wild playoff run and has been Super Bowl MVP. He has the highest passer rating in NFL postseason history. And the last three weeks, he's gone into L.A. and beaten the Rams, thrown a franchise-record 471 yards and beaten the Texans and tied an NFL-record with 25 straight passes to help clinch a playoff berth in Washington. He's revived a lifeless team. Story continues And we're no longer seeing the inconsistency we saw most of his career. He wasn't very good against the Falcons in the opener, but he won, which is what he always seems to do - 10-1 since returning to Philly last year and 24-6 in 30 meaningful games in an Eagles uniform since 2013. At some point, do they sit down together and say, "Hey, are we sure we're doing the right thing?" One thing we know about Roseman. He'll be creative and aggressive and think outside the box. If the Eagles, at some point, do decide organizationally that Foles gives this franchise the best long-term chance at sustained success, he will be just as aggressive moving Wentz as he was acquiring him. We all know how Roseman feels about draft picks. This is a crazy situation, an unprecedented situation. And we won't know for years whether the Eagles did the right thing. Pederson couldn't be clearer when he says: "Carson is our quarterback. He's our quarterback of the future." But as the weeks go by and the wins and records pile up, I think even the biggest Wentz supporter at some point would find themselves thinking, "Will Carson Wentz ever do what Nick is doing?" Personally, I think he can. Assuming he regains all his mobility and physically can once again be the guy he was last year. He really is a special talent. But I'd be lying - we'd all be lying - if I said there's no doubt in my mind. I've seen Foles win a Super Bowl. I've seen him standing at the 50-yard line at U.S. Bank Stadium holding the Super Bowl MVP trophy high in the air. It's happened. It's not a fluke. And nothing Foles does the rest of his career would surprise any of us. Get this call wrong and it could set the franchise back years. If you're the Eagles, you really have to be careful you don't cut ties with one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. The trick is, figuring out which guy that is. Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device. More on the Eagles | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-nick-foles-magic-convince-154345881.html?src=rss |
Is Pacquiao shading Mayweather in his New Years resolution tweet? | Many Filipinos are greeting the new year by making resolutions, and Manny Pacquiao is no exception. The boxer and senator even made it public by tweeting about it on Jan. 1. But instead of keeping it light, he also did not miss the chance to throw some shade. Scroll to continue with content Ad Heres what Pacquiao wrote: Some of his fans took this as a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., who won a decisive victory versus kickboxing champion Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition match on Dec. 31 in Tokyo. The match ended after only two minutes and 19 seconds after Mayweather floored Nasukawa three times on the ring. Mayweather was so confident about winning that he claimed that he barely even trained for it. @darebirthonline joked that by tweeting his resolution, Pacquiao finally landed a punch on Mayweather. Story continues Wow. Finally landed a jab on Floyd Jamie (@darebirthonline) December 31, 2018 @SpeedGonzales1 wrote that after Mayweathers exhibition bout versus Nasukawa, fans need to see a real fight, referring to Pacquiaos match in January versus American Adrian Broner. Coincidentally, Broner is a former protg of Mayweather. After the last Mayweather exhibition we need a to see a real fight!!! Waiting for The Manny Show in january!!! Do it mannnn SpeedGonzales (@SpeedGonzales1) January 1, 2019 Another netizen felt that Pacquiao was shading Mayweather and tweeted this gif that shows the latter pretending to be spooked. On the other hand, someone asked if Pacquiao was ready to fight Jeff Horn, the Australian boxer who defeated Pacquiao in 2017. Orlando Martinez (@elhocicon77) December 31, 2018 Pacquiao has been open to the possibility of a rematch versus Mayweather, who defeated him in Las Vegas in 2015. Pacquiao earlier said that a rematch was scheduled in early December last year after a video went viral showing him and Mayweather chatting at a concert in Japan. But alas, nothing came out of it, and instead Pacquiao will fight Broner in a match which will reunite him with his coach Freddie Roach, whom he reportedly had a falling out after he lost to Horn. But a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch could still happen. Pacquiao told the BBC in November that a rematch was a big possibility and that he couldnt retire with peace of mind because of his 2015 defeat. Fight fans may have to wait, however, because Pacquiao hasnt given any specific dates as to when the much-anticipated fight is going to happen. This article, Is Pacquiao shading Mayweather in his New Years resolution tweet?, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. For more Coconuts stories, you can download our app, sign up for our newsletters, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. | https://sports.yahoo.com/pacquiao-shading-mayweather-resolution-tweet-061244193.html?src=rss |
Is Dropbox a Buy? | Cloud storage provider Dropbox (NASDAQ: DBX) was the second-biggest tech IPO of 2018, raising $756 million in March, and it was initially one of the more successful ones, as its shares nearly doubled in value. As the year wore on, however, the stock steadily declined, and Dropbox closed out 2018 up just 3% from its offer price -- but down 53% from its highs. With over 500 million registered users and more than 12 million paying ones, Dropbox is still formidable -- let's look at if it's a buy at this price point, or if investors would be better off storing this one away for some other time. Representation of computers connecting in the cloud More Collaborative tools for small- and medium-size businesses, as well as enterprise-level businesses, may hold the future for Dropbox's growth. Image source: Getty Images. An uphill battle Part of the concern surrounding Dropbox is that it competes against some of the biggest names in the industry, including Amazon.com, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, all of which provide free cloud storage solutions. The challenge for Dropbox is to scale its business while converting its free riders into paying customers, which analysts actually believe it can do over time. Analysts at JPMorgan Chase forecast Dropbox may be able to make good on its goal to convert as many as 300 million users to the paying side, though the cloud storage site admits it has fewer than its published number of users because some may have more than one account. That suggests there may be a little more optimism than is warranted, though the more users Dropbox converts, the lower its user costs will be. Dropbox also needs to make further inroads into the enterprise market if it wants to achieve profitability, but with Alphabet and Microsoft already offering enterprise-level collaboration tools, it's not an easy transition. Furthermore, Box (NYSE: BOX) is also competing in the space, and though it has only 63.5 million registered users, it has also converted nearly one-fifth of them into paying customers. While Dropbox does have enterprise-level partners like Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and Adobe, there may be more opportunity targeting small- and medium-sized businesses, which is arguably a market closer in nature to Dropbox's consumer-oriented roots and one which it is more familiar with. Doing what it does best Despite the competitive hurdles Dropbox faces and the challenge of broadening its customer perspective, the company looks to be executing on its promise. Third-quarter revenue rose 26% to $360 million as the number of paying customers increased by 18% year over year to 12.3 million. And revenue per user rose to $118.60 from $112.05 a year ago, an important advance. Margins also improved year over year as gross margin expanded by 690 basis points and GAAP operating and net losses shrunk. Adjusted operating margin widened to 12.8% and adjusted net income nearly doubled to $45 million. So even though Dropbox's current user-conversion ratio is pretty low, it's increasing its profitability despite having to drag the free riders along. Right now, Box generates orders of magnitude more revenue per customer than does Dropbox, but Dropbox is generating more total revenue than its rival and growing at a faster pace. The end user is mostly different for each -- Dropbox with a consumer focus and Box more geared towards enterprise businesses -- but that may narrow as time passes and each company seeks to diversify its user base. | https://news.yahoo.com/dropbox-buy-010600885.html |
Are the Bears Right About GNC Holdings? | GNC Holdings (NYSE: GNC) has lost over 90% of its market value over the past three years as competition from superstores, warehouse retailers, and e-tailers drained its sales and profits. Several lawsuits that questioned the safety and efficacy of its supplements tarnished the brand's reputation, and the suspension of its dividend in 2017 eliminated one of the last reasons to own the stock. GNC's steep sell-off reduced its price-to-sales ratio to just 0.08 and its EV-to-sales ratio to 0.6. Bottom-fishing investors might be drawn to those bargain bin valuations, but the bears are still betting heavily against the stock, as nearly 80% of GNC's float was being shorted as of Dec. 26. The shadow of a bear faces a man in a suit wearing a matador's hat and holding a red cape. More Image source: Getty Images. I've been bearish on GNC for a long time, but I still think it's important to evaluate the headwinds and potential tailwinds for this beaten-down retailer. After all, a single glimmer of hope at these levels might spark a big short-squeeze and a short-term rally. GNC sells its own vitamins and health supplements alongside third-party products at its retail stores, many of which are located in malls. This business model worked well when mall traffic was healthy and competitors like Walmart and Costco carried fewer supplements. But as mall visits declined and Walmart, Walmart's Sam's Club, and Costco offered more vitamins and supplements in cheaper bulk packages, GNC's business dried up. Here's how badly its same-store sales and top-line growth deteriorated over the past year. Metric Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Comps (Company-owned) 5.7% 0.5% (0.4%) (2.1%) Comps (Franchised) (2%) 1.9% (4%) (4.1%) Total revenue (2.1%) (7.2%)* (5%) (5.4%) YOY growth; comps exclude international sales. Source: GNC quarterly reports. *Caused by the sale of its Lucky Vitamin brand. A rare bright spot was GNC's smaller international business, which reported a 1.5% increase in franchised comps last quarter. However, GNC's international revenues accounted for only 9% of its top line. Its revenue declines in the second and third quarters were exacerbated by the Lucky Vitamin sale in the first quarter, but GNC's negative comps indicate that its core business is still struggling. GNC's declining domestic comps were also exacerbated by the redemption of loyalty points over the past few quarters. But even excluding that impact, GNC's company-owned comps slipped 1.3% during the third quarter. GNC expects the impact from loyalty programs to be "negligible" in the fourth quarter and beyond, but it didn't provide any clear comps guidance for that quarter or the full year. Analysts expect GNC's revenue to fall 5% this fiscal year (which ended on Dec. 31) and drop another 2% next year. GNC's main direct competitor, Vitamin Shoppe (NYSE: VSI), which faces many similar headwinds, is expected to post a 5% sales decline this fiscal year (which ended on Dec. 30) followed by flat growth next year. Contracting margins and widening losses To buoy its sales growth, GNC used big markdowns and loyalty program promotions to drive sales. This has caused its gross margin to contract over the past few years. | https://news.yahoo.com/bears-gnc-holdings-003200003.html |
What Is a Corporate Bond? | A diverse portfolio is one that contains a variety of assets, including stocks and bonds. While bonds aren't necessarily the most lucrative investment out there, what they lack in higher returns, they make up for in stability. The bond market is actually made up of different types of bonds. There are Treasury bonds issued by the U.S. government, municipal bonds issued by states, cities, and counties, and corporate bonds issued by -- you guessed it -- corporations looking to raise capital. Here, we'll take a deep dive into corporate bonds to help you determine whether they're right for you. We'll review key terms you need to know, like maturity dates, interest rates, and credit ratings, so that you understand how corporate bonds work. We'll also show you how to evaluate bonds on a case-by-case basis and develop an investment strategy around them. IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. A bond is a debt instrument issued by an entity to raise money. In the case of a corporate bond, the entity in question is a corporation looking to raise capital for a host of reasons, whether to expand, upgrade equipment, or invest in research and development. The best way to think about corporate bonds from an investor standpoint is to liken them to an I.O.U. When you buy bonds, you're essentially lending money to a company for a predetermined period of time, known as a bond's term. That period might be two years, five years, or 10 years, depending on the company's needs. The company, in turn, agrees to pay you a specific amount of interest on that loan, and then repay your initial investment, or principal, once your bond matures, or comes due, at the end of its term. For example, you might buy a 10-year, $20,000 bond paying 3% interest. The company that issues that bond will, in turn, promise to pay you interest on that $20,000 every six months, and then return your $20,000 after 10 years. Back in the day, bondholders actually had to submit the physical coupons attached to their original bond certificates in order to collect the interest payments that were due to them. Going through that process on a monthly basis would be burdensome, but waiting a full year would result in a long lag between collecting interest payments. Hence, semiannual payments seemed to make sense then, and the tradition has since continued even though the payment of interest has since been digitized. However, this example is a basic representation of how corporate bonds work. Usually, when you buy corporate bonds, you'll lock in a fixed rate, and you'll collect the same interest payment annually (known as a coupon payment) until your bond matures. However, some bonds work differently. Floating-rate bonds are bonds with variable interest rates that change based on outside benchmarks like the U.S. Treasury bill rate or LIBOR (short for the London Inter-bank Offered Rate, it's the rate used by world banks when charging each other interest on short-term loans). Floating-rate bonds are usually issued by companies considered below investment grade, or "junk" status. This means their credit ratings are exceptionally low, and they're thus considered a higher-risk investment. There are also zero coupon bonds, which don't pay interest. Rather, you buy them below face value (meaning, the amount the issuer promises to ultimately repay) and receive their full value once they mature. For example, if you're looking at a zero coupon bond worth $5,000, you might pay just $4,000 for it, and then collect $5,000 once it comes due. Finally, there are convertible bonds. These work just like regular fixed-rate bonds in that they pay interest regularly, only they come with the option to be converted into shares of stock (hence the name). The benefit of buying convertible bonds is that if stock prices rise, so too do bond values. At the same time, if stock prices fall, there's the option to hold your bonds until maturity and recoup your principal. That said, convertible bonds can be difficult to come by, as not all companies issue them, and because they offer the flexibility of being converted to stock shares, their interest or coupon rates are generally lower than what you'd get with a fixed-rate corporate bond. How to buy corporate bonds Because stocks are traded on public exchanges, they're pretty easy to buy and sell. Corporate bonds, on the other hand, do not trade publicly. Rather, they trade in a manner known as over the counter, which means they're purchased through a third party, like a broker. As such, it can be challenging to determine whether you're getting a fair price for the bonds you're buying. It's not illegal for brokers to sell you a bond above its face value, or for a broker to sell you a bond at a price that's much higher than its going rate. The good news is that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulates the bond market so that transaction prices do become available to investors at some point. However, that information isn't always as up to date as it could be. None of this is a reason not to buy corporate bonds. However, it's something you, as an investor, should be aware of. It also speaks to the importance of working with a broker you can trust. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can buy corporate bonds individually, or in the form of shares of a bond fund. With the former, you choose a company and buy bonds it has issued. With the latter, you buy into a fund that invests in corporate bonds, thereby getting the benefit of instant diversification. Remember, if you buy bonds from a single company and it fails to meet its financial obligations under those bonds (which we'll get into in a bit), you stand to lose money. If you buy into a bond fund and one issuer of 30 runs into money problems, the bulk of your investment will remain unaffected. How to make money from corporate bonds For the most part, there are two ways to make money by investing in corporate bonds. The first is to hold your bonds until they mature, and collect interest payments on them along the way. The second is to sell your bonds for a price that's higher than what you bought them for. Going back to our example, say you buy a 10-year, $20,000 bond paying 3% interest for face value, or $20,000. In the first scenario, you'd hold that bond for 10 years, collect 3% interest a year, and get your $20,000 back after a decade. In the second scenario, you might have an opportunity to sell your bonds for $22,000, thereby banking the difference. As noted earlier, there are exceptions to this formula. If you buy zero coupon bonds, for example, you profit by paying less than face value for your bonds and getting their full face value once they mature. Similarly, if you buy shares of a bond fund that goes up in value, and you sell those shares for a price that's higher than what you paid for them, you can profit that way. Corporate bonds versus other bonds Corporate bonds aren't the only type of bond out there. Another popular investment choice is municipal bonds, which are those issued by cities, states, and other localities. Municipal bonds work just like corporate bonds, with one key difference: the tax treatment of the interest payments you collect. When you receive corporate bond interest, it's considered taxable income. But when you collect municipal bond interest, it's always tax-exempt at the federal level, and if you buy bonds issued by your home state, your interest payments are free of state and local taxes as well. That said, corporate bonds tend to offer higher interest rates than municipal bonds, which can, in many cases, more than compensate for that tax exemption. There are also Treasury bonds, which are bonds issued by the U.S. government. Also known as T-bonds, Treasury bonds have a maturity of 10 years or longer, and because they're backed by the credit of the U.S. government, they're considered virtually risk-free. T-bond interest is also tax-free at the state and local level, though you'll pay federal taxes on the interest you collect. And as is the case with municipal bonds, Treasury bonds tend to offer lower interest rates than corporate bonds. Corporate bonds versus stocks It's easy to lump stocks and bonds into the same category. After all, your goal in investing in either one is to make money. But in reality, the two are very different beasts. When you buy corporate bonds, you're making a loan to a company in exchange for interest payments or some other financial incentive. However, you receive no upside if the company performs exceptionally well. When you buy stocks, on the other hand, you actually own equity in the company in question, and in the case of common stock, you get voting rights on how that company operates. In some cases, you also get to collect dividends, which are essentially a share of a company's profits. But don't confuse interest payments and dividend payments -- with the former, you're getting a preset amount as per a contract, or bond agreement, and with the latter, you're benefiting when the company you've invested in does well. How to choose corporate bonds for your portfolio Once you make the decision to invest in corporate bonds, you'll need to make sure you're buying the right ones. You'll therefore need to look at the following factors: The term of your bonds The price of your bonds The credit rating of your bonds' issuer First, let's talk term. The longer you're willing to lock your money away, the higher an interest payment you'll generally receive. At the same time, longer bond terms come with more risk, so you'll need to weigh the upside of a higher interest rate against the possibility of not getting to use your money for however long it is until that bond comes due. If you're investing for a far-off goal, like retirement, then a bond with a 10-year term might be a good way to go, especially if its interest rate is higher than what you'd get with a five-year bond by the same issuer. But if you have reason to believe you'll need your money sooner, you're better off sticking to shorter-term bonds. Then there's the price of your bonds to consider. As stated above, it can be hard to know whether you're getting a fair price on your bonds, so as a general rule, be wary when you're being charged a price that's well above face value. At the same time, don't hesitate to ask your broker what his or her markup is on that bond. If you have a good relationship with your broker, that information should be easy enough to come by. At the same time, don't hesitate to comparison shop. If there's a specific bond you have in mind, get quotes from different brokers and see what's most competitive. Finally, there's the credit rating of a bond's issuer to consider. A credit rating is a measure of a company's ability to make good on its obligations. The higher the rating, the less likely the issuer is to default on its obligations and cause you to lose money. There are three well-known ratings agencies that rate bond issuers: Standard & Poor's (S&P) Moody's Fitch S&P and Fitch use a similar system that rates bond issuers from least to most risky as follows: AAA AA A BBB BB B CCC CC C D (refers to bonds that are already in default) The Moody's rating system differs slightly, as follows: Aaa Aa A Baa Ba B Caa Ca C From there, numbers or symbols are used to offer additional detail on an issuer's creditworthiness. S&P and Fitch use pluses and minuses for this purpose, while Moody's uses numbers. For example, a B+ rating from S&P is better than a B or B-, while a Ba1 from Moody's is a higher rating than Ba2 or Ba3. As a general rule, the lower a company's credit rating, the higher an interest rate you'll snag when buying its bonds. That's because investors need to be rewarded for taking on that risk. Therefore, if you're looking at two different bond issuers with the same credit rating and same bond term, but one is offering a higher interest rate than the other, it might pay to go with that higher rate, all other things being equal. Keep in mind that corporate bonds with a rating below BBB- by S&P and Fitch and Baa3 by Moody's are considered junk bonds. Also known as high-yield bonds, these bonds offer comparatively high interest rates, but with a substantially higher risk of default. While hedge funds are known to snatch up junk bonds, they're generally not an appropriate choice for the average investor, and they're certainly a dangerous move for newbies. Also, remember that bond ratings have the potential to change over time. A company might start out with a high credit rating but encounter financial difficulties that cause its rating to change. There's no need to panic if you buy bonds issued by a company that starts out with a Aaa Moody's rating but gets downgraded to Aa, as the latter is still a strong rating. Rather, be wary if the company issuing your bonds sees its rating drop to the point where it's hovering close to junk status. In some cases, it pays to sell bonds you own at a minimal loss rather than wait for an issuing company to completely default, thereby subjecting you to even greater losses. Benefits of corporate bonds One benefit of buying corporate bonds is that they're a relatively safe investment -- at least compared to stocks. Granted, the better job you do of researching the bonds you buy, the safer your investment will be, but know that on a general level, the bond market is far less volatile than the stock market. Another benefit of buying corporate bonds is that they give you a fairly reliable stream of income, at least in the case of fixed-rate bonds. For example, if you buy a 10-year, $20,000 bond paying 3% interest, you can look forward to $600 of income each year, assuming the bond issuer is able to meet all of its obligations. The dividends you might get from stocks, by contrast, are not guaranteed -- meaning, stock issuers aren't contractually obliged to pay dividends, even when they're doing well financially. Drawbacks of corporate bonds One major drawback of investing in corporate bonds is having to lock your money away for what could be a lengthy period of time. Stocks, by contrast, don't require you to commit to a specific timeframe. That said, you're always free to sell corporate bonds before they come due. If you're able to do so at a point when the market is strong, you might make money -- or at least avoid losing money. But if you sell at a bad time because you need to free up your cash, you could be forced to accept a price below face value, or below what you paid, thereby resulting in a loss. Another downside associated with corporate bonds is something called interest-rate risk. When you buy corporate bonds, you're agreeing to accept a certain interest rate for the entire term of that bond. But if the same company issues bonds later at a higher interest rate, your bonds automatically lose value because you're stuck with that lower, earlier rate, while new investors would rationally prefer to buy bonds from the same company (i.e., the same risk of default) that pay a higher interest rate. For example, you might buy a 10-year, $20,000 bond paying 3% interest. If the same company issues a 10-year, $20,000 bond paying 4% interest six months into your bond's term, your bond value starts to sink, and you're stuck in a scenario where you're collecting a lower rate for years. You generally won't see anywhere close to the same return you'd get with stocks. And over time, that could affect your ability to accumulate wealth. Between 1928 and 2010, stocks averaged an 11.3% return, while bonds averaged just 5.28%. That's quite the difference. Now let's say you invest $20,000 over a 10-year term at an average annual 5.28% return. After a decade, you'll have $33,457. But if you were to score an average annual 11.3% return instead, you'd be sitting on $58,342. Additionally, because bonds trade over the counter, it's hard to know whether you're buying them at a fair price, and overpaying for bonds can easily eat into your profits. Furthermore, bonds are generally sold in $1,000 denominations, which means if you're starting out with a limited amount of money to invest, you could get priced out of the market if your goal is to buy individual bonds (whereas you can easily find individual stocks for well less than $1,000 per share). Finally, although bonds are considered a safer investment than stocks, they're not without risk. If a company issues bonds, encounters financial difficulties, and doesn't have enough money to make its interest payments or repay your outstanding principal, you stand to lose money. Throw in the fact that you're losing a portion of your interest payments to taxes off the bat, and it's easy to see why some investors shy away from corporate bonds. Of course, there's no cookie-cutter answer here, because it will depend on your personal needs and goals. But know this: Bonds are a good way to diversify, whether you're first starting out in the world of investing or have been at it for years. Imagine you invest in stocks and bonds, and the stock market experiences an extended downturn. If, at that time, you continue to collect bond interest, that money could help offset some losses you might inevitably have to take on the stock side of your portfolio. That said, if you're relatively young, you might consider laddering your bonds so that you have different bonds coming due at different times. For example, rather than buy a 10-year, $20,000 bond, you might put $5,000 into a two-year bond, another $5,000 into a three-year bond, an additional $5,000 into a five-year bond, and your remaining $5,000 into a 10-year bond. This way, if interest rates go up during that 10-year window, or other investment opportunities arise, you'll have access to some of your money at various points throughout that decade. Furthermore, while younger investors are generally advised to put more of their money into stocks and less into bonds, the opposite holds true for near-retirees. If you're planning to cash out your investments in the near future to pay your living expenses once you stop working, you won't have a lot of time to ride out a stock market downturn. But since the bond market is relatively stable, you're less likely to face losses when you need to sell your corporate bonds to access cash. Along these lines, corporate bonds can be a smart investment for seniors during retirement. The regular interest payments you collect can serve as a welcome income stream at a time when you're no longer collecting a paycheck. Ultimately, there's a good chance corporate bonds have some place in your portfolio. Think about your tolerance for risk, as well as your immediate and long-term objectives, and you'll probably find that corporate bonds can benefit you in a number of ways. More From The Motley Fool The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/corporate-bond-000900858.html |
When is 'Social Credit' Orwellian? | Here is a fascinating new development in the world of credit that affords fine fodder for reflection. China is in the process of fine-tuning and rolling out an electronically tracked social credit system that has some people pondering and other people shuddering. (Others, it should be noted, think the story overblown.) The idea is, in essence, to generalize the institution of the credit score, with which all of us are more or less familiar, into something rather broader what might be called a credibility score. Whereas the first kind of score is produced by application of an algorithm to ones net worth, earning potential, and financial history to ascertain her likelihood of paying off her debts before a lender lends to her, Chinas variant is aimed at ascertaining something more like just how orderly or socially conforming you are where sundry rules and social norms are concerned. The first kind of score, in other words, scores you as a market participant who might seek commercial credit of some kind, and aims to aid prospective lenders. The second scores you far more broadly, as a participant not only in a market, but also in society at large. Hence not only prior defaults or delinquencies on loan payments, but also illegal parking or smoking in nonsmoking areas will affect your social credit score. The sanctions brought by low scores differ in the two cases in a manner that tracks the different scopes of the two cases. A low credit score narrows your borrowing options: some wont lend to you at all, others will charge higher interest or demand collateral or back-up guarantors. A low social credit score, by contrast, might result in your being kept off of planes or of high-speed trains. It will also be publicized, presumably to facilitate shunning and shaming. Forget financial privacy under social credit scoring system, you dont enjoy financial or any form of privacy on matters that might be of interest to those thinking of interacting with you in any manner. If you are like me, youre probably made a little uneasy by this system that China is said to be implementing. If you think about it, youll soon see that any money system indeed any social system, if it is in fact a system is a kind of 'social credit' system, and probably few but the most defiant of hermits object to the maintenance of such systems in some form or other. Sociality itself would seem to presuppose and depend upon them. Moreover, the reduction of multifactorial social credit vectors to rough scalar measures of merit seems itself to be ubiquitous across social systems. We commonly 'sum' individuals 'up,' in both formal and informal settings, as variably 'good,' 'decent,' 'reliable,' 'trustworthy,' 'faithful,' etc. in families, clubs, workplaces, neighborhoods, you name it. And of course we permit entire industries of 'credit scorers' and other 'reputational intermediaries,' as noted above, to determine who among us gets temporary access to what resources for what purposes, etc. And lest there be any mistake here, this isnt just about scoring borrowers anymore, even here in the West. Algorithmic scoring is used now in making immigration decisions and traveler-screening decisions, in hiring decisions, in digital nudging, in smart city surveillance systems, in health insurance and health delivery systems, and in a rapidly growing host of additional applications. Some fintech firms are even now toying with the idea of issuing social capital scrip, which would amount to a sort of spendable social credit standing to social credit rather as currency stands to ordinary bank credit. Something tells me, however, that learning were doing it too now doesnt make you feel much better about the Chinese case or about ours. I think I see three possibilities. One source of our worry is presumably the anti-democratic provenance and use of the particular index in question in China. It is hard to see it as having been likely conceived, constructed, or deployed by the demos the people in any plausible sense. And so it looks as though people will be denied access to all manner of resource and access on the basis of assessments made not by one another, but by some unchosen supervisor that's thrust upon them. We might thus object to the index as being effectively little more than a fintech rendition of the old Tang Code, which like most of its successor codes in ancient China was essentially nothing more than a 'book of punishments' administered by an unchosen, unauthorized overlord. Call this the democratic objection. Note that the democratic objection, if coherent, would carry over to many of the Western cases listed above too, however. Democratic accountability is attenuated, if not altogether absent, in all of them. A second source of our worry might be the unusually large number, and perhaps some or many of the particular choices, of vector components that go into the scalar measure of social credit in question here, at least insofar as the measure is then employed formally by 'the state' or some other entity rather than informally by members of the community opining informally about one another's reliability. It grates upon liberal sensibilities, for example, to suggest that citizens might be denied the capacity to purchase rail tickets simply because at some point in the past they were caught smoking in non-smoking areas - and that they might subsequently regain that capacity by donating blood or engaging in other 'pro-social behaviors.' Surely those credit relations of which a state takes cognizance should be limited at the very least to our material productive and exchange relations, we might object, hence to our reliability as contractual payers-back of what is contractually lent to us. Other indicators of virtue, vice, merit or demerit, we might continue, should be 'off limits' to state functionaries. Call this the classical liberal objection. Here too the objection, if coherent, ought to occasion some worry about some of the Western cases noted above too. For some of them involve units of government at one level or another e.g., DHS, TSA, or municipal government. We might even worry, as classical liberals, about cases involving private entities doing the scoring, at least if they function as monopolists or oligopolists in the relevant industries, leaving us without alternatives. Finally, some might object to the 'reductiveness' involved in any chosen aggregation rule algorithm purporting to commensurate and convert a vector of social credit measures into a single scalar such measure. Depending on further specification of the ground of this objection, it might be a variation on either or both the democratic and the classical liberal objections just noted. Or it might be an objection to reductiveness as such. If the latter, call this the anti-reductionism objection. But in the latter case the objection should then carry over to our informal practices of 'sizing people up' and characterizing them in shorthand fashion as well. The objection in this case would be, in other words, an objection to the inherently reductive notion of putatively unitary 'social credit' as such - and therefore effectively a rejection of sociality itself inasmuch as sociality rests upon open-ended 'trust' formed on the basis of many distinct attributes of our fellow citizens and community members. I confess that I am unsure of just which of the three mentioned grounds of objection account for my unease with Chinas new social credit system. I do think, however, in light of the foregoing, that all three such grounds suggest we should be worried at home here as well. For while ours is perhaps slightly less centralized than Chinas, we seem to have a rapidly developing, algorithmic social credit system crystalizing here in our own society too. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/rhockett/2019/01/03/when-is-social-credit-orwellian/ |
Will James Webb Be the Next Secretary of Defense? | One of the odd-but-positive political rumors at the start of this odd year is that Donald Trump is considering former Senator James Webb as a successor to James Mattis as secretary of defense. Among the reasons why this would be odd: Webb last held office as a Democrat, and even ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2016 race. Webb is a famously independent-minded character with no ability to suffer fools. (Knowing them both, I can say that Webb is much less willing to go with the organizational flow than Mattis has been.) In his early 40s, he was Ronald Reagans secretary of the Navy, but he resigned within less than a year because of disagreements with the defense secretary of that era, Frank Carlucci. Webb is a gifted novelist, essayist, and screenwriter, who has returned repeatedly to the self-directed literary life after his periods of public service. Reasons why it would be good news for the country, if it happened: | https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/01/jim-webb-secdef/579442/?utm_source=feed |
Did North Korea's Top Diplomat in Italy Defect? | (ROME) North Koreas top diplomat in Italy has gone into hiding along with his wife, according to a South Korean lawmaker, raising the possibility of a defection of a senior North Korean official. The news came from South Koreas spy agency, which briefed lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday on the status of North Koreas acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil. It said he went into hiding with his wife in November before his posting to Italy ended late that month. A high-profile defection by one of North Koreas elite would be a huge embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Seoul and Washington and seeks to portray himself as a geopolitical player. South Korean lawmaker Kim Min-ki said an official from Seouls National Intelligence Service shared the information during a closed-door briefing. Kim did not say whether the spy agency revealed anything about Jos current whereabouts or whether he had plans to defect to South Korea. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now Kim said the NIS said it has not been contacted by Jo. According to Kim, the NIS official said Jo and his wife left the official residence in early November, weeks before his term was to end. Kim said he couldnt confirm if the NIS official revealed whether Jo and his wife were accompanied by any children. The NIS earlier said it couldnt confirm a South Korean media report that Jo was under Italian government protection as he seeks asylum in a Western nation. North Korea has not yet commented on Jos status. An official with the Italian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Jo hadnt requested asylum from Italy. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with standard practice, also said Jo no longer held diplomatic status in Italy, presumably since his assignment had ended. Without citing any sources, Italian daily La Repubblica raised the possibility that while the Foreign Ministry was saying Jo hadnt sought asylum from Italy, that didnt rule out that the North Korean might have turned to other offices, such as Italian intelligence agencies for assistance from Italy in order not to return to his country. North Korea, which touts itself as a socialist paradise, is extremely sensitive about defections, especially among its elite diplomatic corps, and has previously insisted that they are South Korean or U.S. plots to undermine its government. About 30,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, according to South Korean government figures. Many defectors have said they wanted to leave North Koreas harsh political system and widespread poverty. North Korea often accuses the South of deceiving or paying people to defect, or claims that they have been kidnapped. North Korea may publicly ignore Jos possible defection or hold back harsh criticism to avoid highlighting the vulnerability of its government as it tries to engage Washington and Seoul in negotiations, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seouls Dongguk University. Jo had been North Koreas acting ambassador to Rome after Italy expelled then-Ambassador Mun Jong Nam in October 2017 to protest a North Korean nuclear test and long-range missile launch. Jo seemed comfortable moving around Italy. In March 2018, accompanied by another embassy official, Pak Myong Gil, he visited two factories in Italys northeastern Veneto region with an eye on eventual trade, according to La Tribuna di Treviso, a local daily. One factory produced bathroom furnishings and another made accessories from marble. The newspaper quoted the local businessmen as assuming at first the delegation consisted of South Koreans, not North Koreans, given the economic sanctions against North Korea. Among the Italians accompanying the North Koreans was a former Italian senator for what is now the League party, which in general opposes economic embargoes as bad for business. The politician, Valentino Perin, told AP he had spoken with Jo many times, including about preparations for the visit to the Veneto region. Perin said he last met with Jo on Sept. 5, at an official reception organized by the North Korean embassy in Rome. Showing Jos business card, Perin said the North Korean was very proud of his people and of his country. The last senior North Korean diplomat known to have defected is Thae Yong Ho, a former minister at the North Korean Embassy in London, who fled to South Korea in 2016. In an interview on South Korean television, Thae said he worked with Jo for more than a decade in the North Korean Foreign Ministrys Europe bureau and that Jo had a child when Thae last saw him in 2013. Thae said Jo comes from a family of diplomats, with his father and father-in-law both serving as ambassadors. The embassy in Italy is critical for North Korea because it handles annual negotiations with the Rome-based World Food Program over aid to North Korea, Thae said. He also said Italy has been a hub for smuggling luxury items to the North Korean elite, and Jo would have been involved in those activities. Thae said Jo would have been North Koreas main diplomat for the Vatican and would have also handled discussions involving a possible visit to the North by Pope Francis if such talks had taken place. South Korea said in October that North Korean leader Kim mentioned during a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would welcome a papal visit. Thae said he believes Jo was to be replaced by incoming ambassador Kim Chon in November but did not reveal how he obtained such information. While not identifying him by name, North Koreas state media described Thae as human scum after his defection in London, and claimed he was trying to escape punishment for serious crimes. Thae, who has been an outspoken critic of Kim while living in South Korea, denied the accusation and said he defected because he didnt want his children to live miserable lives in the North. Its possible that Jo is trying to defect because of similar reasons, said Koh, a policy adviser for South Koreas president. It could be difficult for some diplomats to accept being called back to the North after enjoying years living in the free West. They could want their children to live in a different system and receive better education, he told The Associated Press. The highest-level North Korean to seek asylum in South Korea is Hwang Jang-yop, a senior ruling Workers Party official who once tutored Kim Jong Uns late father, dictator Kim Jong Il. Hwangs 1997 defection was hailed by many South Koreans as an intelligence bonanza. Hwang died in 2010. Also in 1997, the North Korean ambassador to Egypt fled and resettled in the United States. Contact us at [email protected]. | http://time.com/5493797/north-korea-itlay-defection/ |
What Was The Most Important Breakthrough In Nanotechnology In 2018? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Nathan Donahue, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, on Quora: As a young field, one single research endeavor does not encompass the whole scientific corpus of nanotechnology. To that end (and in my opinion), nanotechnology can be divided into three sub-fields that directly impact: computer science, materials science, and the biological sciences. The following examples are among the biggest accomplishments in the respective nano-related fields in 2018. In the world of nanotechnology with computational applications, one of the biggest accomplishments was the study of plasmon dissipation across graphene[1] The greater significance of their work outlines specific parameters that are responsible for transmitting optical signals at the nano-scale. This is huge for scientists who are seeking to improve sensor technologies data transfer processes! In the realm of nanomaterials, a team of researchers harnessed sunlight to purify water [2]. By using a hierarchically nanostructured gel, they exploited solar energy to distill water at a record rate of 1823 liters per hour per square meter! As water becomes a coveted commodity with our growing global population, the importance of such advancements cannot be overstated. Last but certainly not least, this year in bio-nanotechnology, researchers were able to examine the efficacy of a nanoparticle vaccine for influenza [3][4]. The nanoparticle vaccine successfully elicited strong antibody responses against the virus in patients who received the formulation. In fact, such clinical success led to the efficacy trial of their trivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine this flu season (20182019). Perhaps similar formulations with different antigens can be used to develop potent vaccines against other viruses. In conclusion, nanotechnology is a vast scientific discipline that spans many areas. There have been great strides and breakthroughs in all facets of nanotechnology this year. Heres to 2019! Footnotes [1] Fundamental limits to graphene plasmonics [2] Highly efficient solar vapour generation via hierarchically nanostructured gels [3] Improved Titers against Influenza Drift Variants with a Nanoparticle Vaccine | NEJM [4] Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Trivalent Nanoparticle Influenza Vaccine With Matrix M-1 Adjuvant (NanoFlu) - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/03/what-was-the-most-important-breakthrough-in-nanotechnology-in-2018/ |
Is Blockchain Solving An Elusive Or Non-Existent Problem In Electricity Markets? | Theres a famous piece of dialogue attributed to the Prime Minister of Britain William Gladstone and Michael Faraday. Faraday had just invented the electric generator and was showing Gladstone what it could do. Gladstone remarks, Yes but what the devil use is it? To which Faraday says Ive no idea, but I warrant one day youll tax it. Such an exchange, whether true or apocryphal shows the huge mystery and incomprehension new technology often brings to any society. And its true that distributed electricity paired with blockchain and crypto based technology is baffling to many, even highly tech savvy commentators in the industry. Indeed, judging by some articles appearing in the digital press there is widespread lack of understanding of the potential of distributed energy resources (DERs) when coupled with blockchain. Some quite serious analysts have openly professed a lack of understanding of what problem this technology is trying to solve. Maybe this is the fault of technology companies that havent set out their stall clearly enough. But the charge that the value proposition isnt clear is a valid one and does need addressing. Thats not surprising because to understand the proposition fully you have to go beyond the crypto and blockchain elements and understand the foibles of the legacy electrical industry. Essentially you can sum it up as this. As more and more people go solar, the price doesnt go down. In fact, to some extent it goes the other way and becomes more expensive. This is quite a counter intuitive state of affairs and it reflects the complexity of the electricity market. The Sun is Free, But Its Making Things Expensive As more and more people come off the grid it leaves the people left behind to shoulder more of the costs. You can look at this in terms of fixed and marginal costs, but either way the upshot is clear. More defectors from the grid means more of the rest have to pay for keeping the system going. This means of course that grid prices rise and more and more defectors buy into solar and out of the grid. This becomes a vicious circle and in economics it is called a utility death spiral; its one of the reasons electricity is getting more expensive. It is also one of the issues DERs and blockchain can eventually sort out. By providing an alternative to what is essentially overpriced infrastructure, it will help distributed solar and wind do what they eventually must do - bring down the price. But this isnt the only piece of dysfunctional status quo that DERs are challenging. A Curious Differential Depending on whom you ask, theres a substantial gap in pricing that reflects a huge market asymmetry. As an example in some places in Australia theres a 7 cent feed-in price to the grid (selling price) and a 26 cent buy back rate. Or as some see it, a shocking amount of profiteering on the part of the energy companies. Now theres a lot of debate about what this feed-in-to-buy difference actually is. Some commentators say its much smaller than 19 cents, depending on what assumptions are made about network costs and daily fixed charges. But no one disputes the general point. The established energy companies charge substantially more for consumers to buy their electricity than they do to take it off your hands. And that high wholesale electrical prices are the new normal, a fact not lost on the Grattan report published in July 2018. Now you might think that as renewable kilowatt production levels climb, and we build more and more low cost solar and wind farms, eventually that differential, whatever it is exactly, will be eroded, and that the wholesale price will come down. However, this doesnt appear to be the case. In fact, you could double, triple, even multiply by ten, the amount of renewable kilowatts pumped out by solar and wind farms, and although good from a carbon perspective, unless you change the market dynamics the price differential would probably remain in place. One of the reasons is that as you produce more electricity, you actually create a problem for the grid managing your oversupply. Many wind farmers around the world are paid more to avoid supplying the grid when supply is high and power demand is low. The price gap reflects the fact that the main suppliers have a difficult job to do. They have to manage the supply of electricity and demand in a world where unlike any other good or commodity you cant really store it economically. Sure, batteries have become better in recent years and even months, but for the most part storing electricity is neither easy nor cheap. So unlike grain or cocoa beans, where you can warehouse huge supplies, electricity has to be very actively managed to protect against spikes and troughs. This is part of the reason for the buy-sell differential. And this is where the real distributed renewable electricity proposition comes in. And its another way of thinking about and managing demand spikes. Hold The Storage, Were Managing The Price If you can have a very responsive agile price mechanism, so that individual players, or rather their computer algorithms can choose their price, the problem of storage starts to go away. If electricity is expensive at 20.33 one evening because everyone is taking a shower, the price mechanism kicks in and manages the system so that it heats the water up a little later when the spike is over, at 20.35. If you want to cool your house down by a few degrees, your active pricing helps you pick the minutes on the distributed grid where electricity is plentiful and cheap. Thermal applications lend themselves to time shifting and they can be big guzzlers of electricity. So essentially distributed electricity coupled with technology can solve a vitally important problem, even if many experts cant see it. Its a problem thats deeply embedded and priced into our legacy electrical networks and predicated on fossil-fuel based electricity. Maybe this is why it seems like a nebulous solution, because its a problem were not very clear about. But theres no doubt the problem exists. Its this problem that explains part of the feed-in tariff to buy price differential. Far from it. When you look at how disruption happens in real markets you come to the conclusion that they will likely happen in places like Thailand where the legacy systems arent as profitable and where countries which are better placed to leapfrog their technology. Technologies that can enable this transactive grid, using the blockchain, are starting to demonstrate how these new marketplaces will work there. As Clayton Christensen, Professor of Economics at Harvard observed, disruption first comes to the markets where the big players cant be bothered to play. This will be especially true in the uptake of DERs. So perhaps its no surprise that these are the countries where you find the first large scale commercial uptake of DERs using the blockchain. How long it takes for this technology to jump over to the developed world players and really disrupt existing markets remains to be seen. Some retailers and utilities are trialling peer to peer trading, using new daily fixed supply charges and wholesale energy prices and using blockchain to manage transactions, to offer more attractive options to their customers, but we can take this model a step further. The differential of 7, 12 or 19 cents per kilowatt hour depending on who youre talking to will come under pressure. So too will the daily fixed costs electricity companies can charge. And when the history of energy is written it will be the change in the market paradigm rather than the political posturing that makes the difference and enables change. Whether the energy commentators will eventually get their head around the concepts before then is another matter. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemmagreen/2019/01/04/is-blockchain-solving-an-elusive-or-non-existent-problem-in-electricity-markets/ |
Is it rude to apply makeup on public transit? | I ride the subway to work every day and Im happy about that for the most part: It means the time is useful and saves me the hassle of traffic. In fact, I often spend the ride doing my makeup, which means I dont have to do it at home. The other day I noticed someone rolling their eyes at me though. I got worried. Can you sort this out for me since I dont want to be offending anyone. Anne, Etobicoke Lets just take a second to pat ourselves on the back. I also ride the train into work and would argue that, at its best, its the most peaceful part of my day. No one has any demands on your time and, instead, you can just be shuttled through space, letting another driver take control which is rare for most adult women who always need to have a foot pushed firmly down on the gas pedal of productivity, lest our infinite to-do lists not get completed. (Spoiler alert: Those tasks will never be completed, so its best to make peace with that now.) At its worst, the commute can bring you into too-close-for-comfort contact with strangers who roll their eyes, man-spread or sit in the aisle seat, forcing innocent people to clamber over their laps to score an empty seat. (The selfishness of it all!) Lets recall those nasal Seth Rogen announcements from the summer in which he begged TTC riders not to clip their nails whilst riding The Rocket. I think we can all agree that that is well beyond the boundary of normal behaviour. But a perusal of travel forums (ever the journalist, I dove into the darkest corners of the internet to get a consensus on your question) most transit-takers reserved their grooming-related complaints for hair-brushing, which makes a great deal of sense once you give it a moment of thought. I once interviewed a pop star (I wont mention her name, but shes something of a firework, baby) who spent the entire interview twirling her hair and inadvertently dropping the loose strands on the floor. It was not cute. A handy rule of thumb: Never leave DNA behind. To get further clarity, I reached out to Hayley Waldman, who, as a spokesperson for the TTC, knows first-hand what commuters complain about. We know from customer feedback that things like personal grooming and excessive perfume can irritate fellow passengers, she explained. In this case, however, there was only one complaint filed this year specifically regarding makeup. | https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2019/01/04/is-it-rude-to-apply-makeup-on-public-transit.html |
Did state GOP chair just warn Sen. Martha McSally not to criticize Donald Trump? | Opinion: If you read between the lines in the party's recent newsletter it sure sounds like it. Recently appointed Sen. Martha McSally (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic) In a recent Arizona Republican Party newsletter, Chairman Jonathan Lines issued marching orders for elected Republican officials in clear, concise, mildly threatening terms: Lines declared that office holders must "stand with President Donald Trump. And that it is "non-negotiable." Non-negotiable. I kinda think he's talking to you Because while no names were mentioned, it sounds like the chairman might just be talking to you. After all, you're now the only Arizona Republican in the U.S. Senate. And you have an election coming up in 2020. Chairman Lines was in a tizzy over an essay written by newly elected Utah Sen. Mitt Romney in which Romney was critical of Trump. Among other things Romney said that Trump had not risen to the mantle of the office. He added, I do not intend to comment on every tweet or fault. But I will speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions. It's what the late Sen. John McCain was doing and would have continued to do. A demand to 'stand with our president' Lines said Romney's essay was "very critical of our President, and Republicans rightly have criticized both his words, and the fact that he used the pages of the Washington Post, one of the most anti-Trump newspapers in the country, to deliver them. He added and part of this is hilarious: One of the things Ive always loved about our party is that we are a big tent. We have room for everyone. Thats why, as your Chairman, Ive done my best to welcome as many different viewpoints and coalitions as possible into our party However, while we are accepting of different viewpoints, it is essential that we stay true to our conservative values. Maybe the tent isn't actually that big Its the part where Lines says we have room for everyone and welcomes many different viewpoints but says that standing with Trump is non-negotiable. In other words, you can have any viewpoint you wantas long as you agree with Trump. Lines really REALLY reinforces this point. He says that he is strongly supportive of President Donald J. Trump. And that in 2020 he plans to deliver our state once again for President Trump. And that the Arizona GOP will be doing everything in its power to continue to stand up for President Trump and win in 2020! During her campaign for the senate McSally alternated between calling Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who defeated her, a traitor and kowtowing to Trump, even to the point of disrespectfully snubbing the Sen. McCain. Kowtowing to Trump didn't work, but... That strategy failed. McSally has stuck a more conciliatory tone since being appointed to the senate by Gov. Doug Ducey. She says shell work with Sinema and that they share a lot of common ground. I'd guess that isn't a message Trump voters want to hear. McSally would like to carve out a reputation as a centrist, but she knows she can't win without those Trump voters, who live way to the right of center. The newly-appointed senator, already gearing up for another election, needs some wiggle room. But the state GOP chairman says standing with Trump is "non-negotiable." MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/04/martha-mcsally-donald-trump-arizona-republican-party/2480287002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/04/martha-mcsally-donald-trump-arizona-republican-party/2480287002/ |
Will $1 Million Tempt Disgraced Cricketer David Warner To Break His Silence? | The ugly ball-tampering scandal keeps lingering like a bad bruise that doesn't heal. The pain just doesnt go away for Australian cricket. Recently, suspended former captain Steve Smith and opener Cameron Bancroft reappeared in the Australian media after a lengthy time keeping a low profile. The pairs bid to start restoring their damaged reputation backfired through awkward interviews and the indulgence was widely panned. The supposed tell-all interviews did not shed light into the many unanswered questions from that infamous day three of the Newlands Test and perhaps it would have been wiser for Smith and Bancroft to continue staying out of the limelight. Interestingly, David Warner the instigator of the plot to use sandpaper to tamper with the ball has maintained his silence over the scandal ever since his initial tearful press conference after being sent home in disgrace from South Africa. Warner, the renowned firebrand, has the weight of the scandal now on his broad shoulders. Where the saga turns is dependent on the hard-bitten left-hander. Bancroft, his former opening partner, effectively threw Warner under the bus by outing him as the conspirator of the brainless scheme. It wasnt revelatory but instructive of Bancroft not shielding the former vice-captain. Warner, a long-time polarizing figure due to his on-field histrionics, has copped the brunt of the public's flak putting into question his future. Smith, in contrast, seems likely to walk back into the team once his ban ends in March and could even be reinstated into the captaincy one year after that. Due to Australias woes with the bat, Warner probably will be shoehorned in but it is unknown whether his teammates particularly those who played in Newlands believe he is toxic to the team and damaged goods. Warner has been painted as the villain of the debacle and it is unclear whether he is willing to accept that fate. The 32-year-old is a proud person, who had a tough childhood and has never been one to back down. Warner, however, has so far refused to spill the beans as it appears he is carefully navigating this turbulent period through the advice of his sports manager James Erskine, a leading figure in the industry. According to Fairfax, Warner could earn around (AUD) $1 million (USD $700,000) from an exclusive book deal. It is almost certain such an explosive book detailing the scandal from Warner's perspective would attract widespread interest. He reportedly has major television interview offers on the table too, but Warner has not budged yet and is letting his bat do the talking. The financial incentives must be enticing for Warner, who has suffered in the hip pocket after the humiliating fiasco. Warner, along with Smith, had his (USD) $1.69 million Indian Premier League contract torn up by the Board of Control for Cricket of India, after being banned from the lucrative tournament this year. Overall, he has lost an estimated $3.5 million in sponsorship and playing contracts. Since being banned from the national team and Australian domestic cricket, Warner has kept busy playing in Twenty20 tournaments around the world. As a beleaguered Australia inches towards a first ever home Test series loss to India, Warner arrived in Dhaka to play in the Bangladesh Premier League where he is set to lead the Sylhet Sixers. Life has been good for me. I have been spending time with the family. I wouldnt be able to do that if I wasnt sitting in the sidelines, Warner told reporters. It is about getting the best out of myself and growing as a human being. My most important thing was being a father and husband at home. It is up to the (Australian) selectors whether or not they want to pick me, he added. At the end of the day, all I can do is score runs in this tournament and the Indian Premier League, keep putting my hand up and making sure that I am the best person I can be. Right now, Warner doesnt seem vengeful and, rather surprisingly, has been refreshingly dignified compared to Smith and Bancrofts ham-fisted efforts at redemption. But the day will surely arrive when Warner speaks on the matter. Until then, the murky events of Newlands and the uncertainty around Australian cricket will remain unresolved. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/tristanlavalette/2019/01/04/will-1-million-tempt-disgraced-cricketer-david-warner-to-break-his-silence/ |
Could Draymond Green hold Warriors back from winning NBA Finals? | Theres nothing particularly surprising about how opposing teams are guarding the Warriors this season. With the defending champions once again trotting out a trio of elite offensive forces, it's clear who should be left open when scheming to stop the Dubs. An open look for Steph Curry or Kevin Durant is often cause for a timeout. A wide-open three for Draymond Green is considered a won possession. This isnt an implicit criticism of Green. Plenty of dynamic offensive players arent quality shooters from beyond the arc, and Green specialized at punishing sagging defenses in previous seasons when driving downhill toward the basket. But he wasnt a complete non-threat, either, shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc in Golden States 73-win campaign in 2015-16. ROLLINS: Harden's Clutch Three Closes Out Rockets-Warriors Thriller Green made Cleveland pay for leaving him open in Game 7 of the Finals in 2016, burying five first-half threes to give Golden State a seven-point halftime lead. On a night where Curry and Klay Thompson went a combined 6-of-24 from three, Green more than held up his end of the bargain, pouring in 32 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists on 11-of-15 shooting. Even after earning a Game 5 suspension for an incident with LeBron James, Green would have been in line for Finals MVP if Golden State claimed a second Pre-Durant championship. Still, even back then Green wouldn't have been mistaken for any sort of sharpshooter despite. Green shot 30% from three in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, about 5% below league average. Yet in previous years, he still acted as a passable threat, making over one three per game in each of the past four seasons before 2018-19. Leaving Green open on most nights was a necessary choice, but there were consequences to that decision. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images But Green has dropped to levels that match Thunder forward Andre Roberson in 2018-19. Hes shooting 24.6% from beyond the arc, sixth worst of all players above two attempts per game. Green is making just 0.6 threes per game, the fewest since his rookie year. His percentages were previously an eyesore on the stat sheet. His lack of volume is presently the problem. Opposing teams inattention to Green from three shouldnt sink his offensive game. Greens still drawing many of the same coverages from previous seasons. He often holds the ball at the top of the key as defenses shift to cover Curry, Durant and Thompson. Its a common look in Golden State, often formed after a Curry-Green two-man game. Greens options are clear when he receives an open lane from the top of the key. He can launch a three, or, as hes often inclined to do, barrel toward the lane in order to collapse the defense. The latter option is critical to Greens offensive prowess. He evolved into a more controlled and skilled finisher after his first two seasons, making 48.8% of shots at the rim in 2015-16 and nearly 40% the following season. Green is also one of the headier passers in the NBA when driving to the rim, previously spoon-feeding lobs to JaVale McGee and dump-offs to a cutting Curry or Andre Iguodala. The Warriors at their best are an unwinnable game of whack-a-mole. Pay attention to Green, and watch Golden States trio of elite scorers take over. Cover Curry and Durant, and Green will control the action. Green is still skilled when left open, though his verve and aggression toward the tin has wilted in 2018-19. Hes said it himself in recent weeks, most notably after Golden States Christmas Day loss to the Lakers. I kind of fed our whole offense up and that kind of messed the game up, Green said on the heels of his four-point effort against Los Angeles. They was playing that gimmick defense. I was really hesitant to shoot, hesitant to make plays. I wasnt aggressive enough. Green looked lost when Los Angeles opted to leave him wide open, especially after an air ball in the second quarter. More troubling than the misses, though, was Greens hesitancy to embrace his role as a playmaker. NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: Ja Morant Rises Up the Ranks The most glaring error came on a kick out from Kevon Looney early in the third quarter. Four Lakers hugged the paint while Lonzo Ball stayed attached to Curry. Green sized up a triple but opted to pass on the open look, beginning his run toward the rim. But he didnt draw significant attention from Los Angeless defense, instead settling for a foul-line floater before LeBron chose to challenge. The possession ended with a clank off the rim, marking another wasted possession in a nightmare Christmas performance. Golden State still boasts the NBAs best offense by net rating, on track to regain their title for the third time in four years after Houstons near-historic campaign last season. Yet Greens offensive regression could drop the Warriors from unbeatable to vulnerable. Green boasts an offensive rating of 97, the worst mark since his rookie year. As Greens offensive game stalls out, so can the Warriors, making a fourth championship in five seasons less than a guarantee. | https://www.si.com/nba/2019/01/04/draymond-green-warriors-stephen-curry-kevin-durant-nba-finals |
Has the skin-care industry finally come around to embracing the skin were in? | In our wellness-centric society, one of the most visible ways to show off a healthy lifestyle is with a glowing complexion. Basically, and I dont think Im exaggerating, every patient who comes to my practice wants to have the healthiest-looking skin possible, says Dr. Shannon Humphrey, a Vancouver-based cosmetic dermatologist, adding that erasing things like wrinkles, lines and folds have become a secondary or even tertiary concern. Flip through a magazine and youll see unretouched signs of aging everywhere, including in high-profile celebrity photoshoots such as Michelle Obamas December cover for Elle. Skin care in 2019 is no longer focused on turning back the clock, but rather adopting an informed, customized, 360-degree approach to caring for your skin. Its about having a holistic approach to a dermatology or an aesthetic plan that is not at a single moment in time, Humphrey says. One component of that plan is using evidence-based skin care to maintain and maximize any professional intervention. At XO Treatment Room in Calgary, owner Annie Graham credits Canadian skin-care brand the Ordinary with generating client interest in product ingredients. People are so interested in the chemical names, ingredient names, and [the Ordinary] names their products after an ingredient rather than, like, luminescent moon dust or something like that, she says. Story continues below advertisement Its this consumer engagement Humphrey sees from patients in their 20s and 30s who are looking for prejuvenation, a strategy thats a cross between prevention and rejuvenation. Patients are coming in earlier, but not for Kylie Jenner lips. Theyre coming in earlier because theyre informed, theyre savvy and they know that if they start early, prevention is something that they can really capitalize on, she says, citing the application of Botox before lines and wrinkles set in as an example. In our practice, we refer to it as baby Botox, Humprey says. What it means is using smaller doses in many areas, not to completely relax muscles, to allow there to be movement, just less movement so wrinkles can be prevented. One prejuvenating treatment new to Canada that Humphrey predicts will be popular in 2019 is Juvderms Volite, an injection that enhances the smoothness, elasticity and internal hydration of the skin. Its kind of like an injectable smoothing moisturizer that last nine to 12 months, Humphrey says. At XO Treatment Room, Graham sees radiofrequency microneedling treatments, in which small needles deliver heat energy to the dermis, as the next big thing. It disperses that heat underneath, coagulating the collagen to give you that tightening effect. Although consumers may be more engaged with a time-consuming and pricey skin-upkeep schedule, the desired aesthetic is more about glow than show. Something that weve been hearing again and again that continues to gain traction and build momentum is this demand from patients and consumers for natural-looking results and a backlash away from dramatic, aggressive invasive treatments, Humphrey says. Start early, Graham says. Prevention is key. XO Facecare Heavy C, $89 through xofacecare.com. Vivier GrenzCine Eye, $191 through vivierskin.com. AlumierMD EverActive C & E Serum, $179 through alumier.com. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement Live with style. We have a weekly Style newsletter on fashion and design trends, plus shopping tips and inspiration. Sign up today. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-has-the-skin-care-industry-finally-come-around-to-embracing-the-skin/ |
Can Eric Garcetti Run L.A. and Run for President at the Same Time? | The tension between his day job and his presidential ambitions may soon come to a head: Garcetti had said hed decide by the end of 2018, and make an announcement either way by the first quarter of 2019. But this month, right in the middle of whats expected to be a rush of candidate announcements, hes facing a potential teachers strike that could shut down city schools. The deadline for a new teachers contract is January 10. Michael Trujillo, an L.A.-based Democratic operative who worked for Garcettis predecessor and rival, Antonio Villaraigosa, said he sees this as a perfect example of how a 2020 campaign could leave the city with distracted leadership. I dont know how you roll out a presidential campaign when the federal government is shut down and every L.A. public school is shut down, too, Trujillo said. I dont think he can do both. Ed Rendell doubts it, too. Rendell, whose final months as mayor of Philadelphia, in 1999, overlapped with his two months as a co-chair of the Democratic National Committee, said he took the national political job on the condition that hed work only on nights and weekends until his tenure was up at City Hall. I could not imagine running for anything and doing my job as mayor, Rendell said. Rendell also said the kind of campaigning it would take to bring up Garcettis poll numbers, now in the low single digits because few people know him, is beyond what a full-time mayor can managethough he noted that there might be some wiggle room given the weak-mayor structure in L.A. Garcetti can try to do both mayor and candidate, but I dont think he can give the right amount of time for a candidate whos really not well-known, who has to get out there, Rendell said. Garcetti isnt the only sitting mayor likely to run in 2020: Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, seems close to announcing his bid. But Buttigiegs city is a fraction of the size of Los Angeles, and thus infinitely less complicated. He announced in December he wont be running for reelection once his term is up at the end of the year, though he didnt officially say his decision was linked to a presidential run. Mike Bloomberg of New York is also considering a presidential bid, though he hasnt run the city in five years. Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans who left office last year, hasnt ruled out a campaign yet. Garcettis advisers argue theyve had practice runs for what the next two years could be like, citing how, for example, he once helped set negotiations in motion over a labor dispute just before leaving on a long trade mission to Asia. Indeed, the mayor has been out of the city frequently over the last two years: pitching Los Angeles as a location for the 2028 Summer Olympics, taking on several roles within the U.S. Conference of Mayors, convening his Accelerator for America nonprofit group thats focused on infrastructure investments, and stumping for midterm candidates in Minnesota, Ohio, and Mississippiall while taking enough personal political trips to tease his presidential prospects and drum up donors. In this day and age, you can be mayor anywhere, Garcetti told me, arguing that much of his travel has been done on behalf of the cityto win the Olympics, to get funding from D.C., to get Sacramento to focus on homelessness. | https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/la-mayor-eric-garcettis-plan-run-president/579301/?utm_source=feed |
What will new Dickson elementary school be named? | CLOSE A brief overview of the Dickson County Schools system. Wochit Dickson County Schools seal (Photo: File) A new elementary school in the City of Dickson is likely to be named in the coming weeks, according to the Dickson County Schools director. The board approved changing Dickson Intermediate School into the new elementary school in October. The City of Dickson will have five elementary schools. Dr. Danny Weeks said a school naming committee will be established when staff returns to school next week. The principal position for the new elementary school will be posted soon, Weeks said. Dickson Intermediate started three years ago as a school for sixth-graders only. At that time, Weeks said he anticipated that the school might eventually be an elementary school. The new school is projected to have just over 400 students. The preliminary plan is that students who would have attended DIS in the 2019-2020 school year, and in the years following, would attend either Burns Middle or Dickson Middle, based on zoning. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/dickson/2019/01/04/what-new-dickson-elementary-school-named/2458830002/ | https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/dickson/2019/01/04/what-new-dickson-elementary-school-named/2458830002/ |
Is Optimism Dead in the Trump Era? | In the stock market, its called the January Effect. Since this often-irrational condition of year-opening optimism was first given a name, in an academic paper published in 1942, economists have charted the phenomenon. The eternal hope for a fresh start is not confined to the financial markets, of course. Its also why gym memberships and fad diets soar in the first month of the year and why, in politics, the insoluble problems of the preceding twelve months sometimes seem a lot less intractable. This may be true even in the age of Donald Trump. At noon on January 3rd, as the Hundred and Sixteenth Congress convened, with the largest group of Democratic newcomers since the Watergate year of 1974, Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House, summoned the spirit of January in her speech accepting the job. When our new members take the oath, our Congress will be refreshed, and our democracy will be strengthened by their optimism, idealism, and patriotism of this transformative freshman class, she said. Working together, we will redeem the promise of the American dream for every family, advancing progress for every community. Big, sweeping deals, the kind that are often talked about but rarely happen, tend to sound much more appealing in January. For the left, theres been much discussion of a so-called Green New Deal, never mind its dim prospects with a climate-change skeptic in the White House. Other politicians came to Washington to be sworn in this week vowing to block special interests or save Obamacare. The Republican senator Lamar Alexander, meanwhile, is promoting the idea of a Trumpian about-face on immigration, in which the President, against all evidence, could make a wide-ranging agreement with the Democrats to fix the broken system once and for all. Going Really Big on immigration, Alexander wrote in a Washington Post op-ed this week, could be Trumps Nixon-to-China, Reagan-to-the-Berlin-Wall moment in history. Optimism of a different sort came from another Republican, Mitt Romney, who was the G.O.P. Presidential nominee four years before Trump, and who has just been elected to represent Utah in the Senate. In his own Post op-ed, on New Years Day, Romney promised to challenge Trump by speaking out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions. For the Never Trumpers remaining inside the Republican Party, Romneys statement was evidence that resistance to the President did not die entirely with the late Senator John McCain and the retirement of Jeff Flake and Bob Corker. For Democrats who want to constrain Trump or pursue his impeachment and removal from office, it was a glimmer of hopealbeit a very faint onethat such an outcome might actually be possible in 2019, even with a Republican-controlled Senate. But, in general, Washington these days is hardly a town for optimists, even of the January variety. As 2019 begins, the federal government is about to enter the third week of a partial shutdown, already one of the longest in history, caused by Trumps demand that any budget agreement include billions of dollars of funding for his border wall. Talks are at a standstill, and the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama, said on Thursday that the shutdown could last for months and months. The stock market, rather than booming with New Years ebullience, is continuing to tank. A new poll shows that more than sixty per cent of Americans expect a recession soon. Trumps trade war with China is curtailing profits at Apple and other U.S. companies. In the capital, meanwhile, the divided government is expected to produce not landmark legislative deals but more gridlock. The 2020 Presidential race is getting an early start, with roughly two dozen possible Democratic candidates, and with Republicans such as Flake and the former Ohio governor John Kasich weighing challenges to Trump, meaning that both parties will soon be consumed by internal debates and political posturing. So much for the January Effect. At the White House, Trump sent out a New Years message on Tuesday that conveyed less year-opening enthusiasm than it did a warning about the crazy times to come. 2019 WILL BE A FANTASTIC YEAR FOR THOSE NOT SUFFERING FROM TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, he wrote at 8:08 A.M. on January 1st. JUST CALM DOWN AND ENJOY THE RIDE. On January 2nd, he convened a Cabinet meeting that seemed fully in keeping with his promise of a wild ride, offering an unscripted, extended look at a Presidency in meltdown mode. At the table surrounding Trump sat an acting Attorney General, acting Secretary of Defense, acting Interior Secretary, acting E.P.A. administrator, acting Ambassador to the U.N.,, and an acting White House chief of staff. The turnover among Trumps senior officials, according to the Brookings Institution, has hit sixty-five per cent in the course of two years. Stung by the negative headlines, and having cancelled his Christmas vacation because of the government shutdown, Trump called reporters into the room and kept them there as he rambled on and on. The session began just after noon and it ended, according to the transcript the White House later circulated, more than seventeen thousand words later, at 1:42 P.M. The Presidents long discourse was a grievance-filled litany that offered little in the way of comfort for optimists of any party, and its main news consisted of the Presidents bizarre endorsement of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and his insistence, facts notwithstanding, that he essentially fired James Mattis, who in reality was the first Cabinet secretary to quit in protest since 1980. A day later, Pelosi took over the House of Representatives. Her caucus whooped and applauded as she listed the legislation that the House would now approve. The members cheered when she quoted a statement by President Ronald Reagan welcoming immigrants. They cheered when she promised transparency and facts. Only in the Trump era could an endorsement of the truth be seen as a partisan applause line, but we are where we are. A few hours later, a rank-and-file Democrat from Pelosis home state of California, Brad Sherman, was set to introduce the first articles of impeachment against Trump in the new Congress. A significant and growing part of the Democratic caucus is committed to pursuing impeachment, regardless of Pelosis caution and the still-uncertain results of Robert Muellers investigation. No one knows yet, of course, whether the effort to impeach Trump will end with the Presidents removal, or in political disaster for those who pursue it. But we do know this: despite all the tumult and political instability that Trumps unlikely ascendance has brought to the U.S. and the world, views of him have remained remarkably fixed. A Gallup poll from one year ago, at the start of 2018, found Trump with an approval rating of thirty-nine per cent among Americans. At the end of December, after he had fallen in love with Kim Jong Un and met with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, fired his Secretary of State and national-security adviser and Attorney General, lost the House of Representatives, watched his personal lawyer and campaign chairman turn states evidence against him, and feuded publicly with everyone from the chairman of the Federal Reserve and the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to the Prime Minister of Canada, his approval rating was exactly the same: thirty-nine per cent. As President Trump often says, Well see. | https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/is-optimism-dead-in-the-trump-era |
What Women Want? | The experience of reading this book is at times like watching somebody run into a wall they cant see, over and over again, while they describe the wounds theyre sustaining in minute and entertaining detail. From a different angle, its akin to watching a young woman coming to political consciousness in her personal relationships. In one early passage Roberson describes her revelation that all this emotional labor was sapping her brainpower: I came to this conclusion when a guy was giving me strange signals for months and I was using my brain to its full capacity trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I realized: oh, this is a political issue, because instead of focusing on the intersectional-socialist-matriarchal revolution Ive been focusing on whether or not what just happened was a date. And there she stays. What follows this revelation is a forensic investigation into how that mental sabotage happens, rather than particularly useful advice on how to survive it. There is some value in this: Books of feminist cultural commentary usually speak from a position of having understood, rather than doing the exhausting work of trying to understand. Furthermore, Robersons achievement in remaining funny while excavating her pain is just straightforwardly heroic. Heres Roberson on letting unenthusiastic men go free, for example: I am not trying to trick men who arent totally aboard the SS Blythe Is Hot and Fun into marrying me. Im not trying to trap men! It might sound like a joke, but the concept has enjoyed a resurgence in contemporary feminism. Sprouting from the radical feminist movement within the 1970s second wave, political lesbianism is related to lesbian separatism, and promotes the idea that a woman can break from heterosexuality and simply refuse to incorporate sex with men into their lives. (The separatist movement has been sullied lately for adopting transphobic rhetoric, but its influence remains.) The Debate Between Heterosexual Feminism and Political Lesbianismby the Leeds Revolutionary Feminist Group argues that, The heterosexual couple is the basic unit of the political structure of male supremacy. Any feminist can and should be political lesbians, they write. Robersons book almost reads like evidence collected by the lesbian separatist prosecution, but it comes down in favor of the messier, more real problems of trying to live in a world where desire for men just cant be dispensed with that easily. Embedded within How To Date Men When You Hate Men is the insoluble truth that Roberson both desires and loathes men. She forces herself to acknowledge that double bind, then persists through the paradox instead of opting out. | https://newrepublic.com/article/152845/women-want |
Why does it feel good to see someone fail? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Shensheng Wang, Emory University (THE CONVERSATION) In the Pixar animated film Inside Out, most of the plot plays out inside protagonist Rileys head, where five emotions Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger direct her behavior. The film was released to glowing reviews. But director Pete Docter later admitted that he always regretted that one emotion didnt make the cut: Schadenfreude. Schadenfreude, which literally means harm joy in German, is the peculiar pleasure people derive from others misfortune. You might feel it when the career of a high-profile celebrity craters, when a particularly noxious criminal is locked up or when a rival sporting team gets vanquished. Psychologists have long struggled with how to best understand, explain and study the emotion: It arises in such a wide range of situations that it can seem almost impossible to come up with some sort of unifying framework. Yet thats exactly what my colleagues and I have attempted to do. Schadenfreudes many faces One challenge continues to plague those who research schadenfreude: Theres no agreed-upon definition. Some think its best to study the emotion in the context of social comparison, so theyll tend to focus on the way envy or resentment interacts with schadenfreude. Others view the emotion through the lens of justice and fairness, and whether the sufferer deserved his or her misfortune. Finally, the last group thinks that schadenfreude emerges out of intergroup dynamics members of a group deriving joy out of the suffering of those outside of the group. In our view, the different definitions point to multiple sides of schadenfreude, each of which might have distinct developmental origins. The blossoming of schadenfreude Perhaps the writers of Inside Out, when deciding to jettison Schadenfreude, thought that it would prove too difficult for children to grasp. Theres evidence, however, that children begin to experience schadenfreude early in life. For example, at four years old, children found someone elses misfortune like tripping and falling into a muddy puddle funnier if that person had previously done something to hurt other children, such as breaking their toys. Researchers have also found that two-year-old kids primed to be jealous of a peer experience glee when that peer suffers a mishap. By the age of seven, children feel more pleased after winning a game if a rival lost than when both won the game. Finally, in a 2013 study, researchers had nine-month-old infants observe puppets interacting with one another. Some puppets enjoyed the same types of food that the infants enjoyed, while others had a different set of tastes. When some puppets harmed the other puppets, the researchers discovered that the infants would rather see the puppets who didnt share their tastes be hurt over the ones who did share their tastes. Bringing it all together Together, these studies show that schadenfreude is a complex emotion that seems to be deeply ingrained in the human condition. Psychologists Scott Lilienfeld, Philippe Rochat and I wondered if there could be a way to unite the multiple facets of schadenfreude under the same umbrella. Eventually, we settled on seeing schadenfreude as a form of dehumanization the act of depicting and viewing another person as less than human. When most people hear the term dehumanization, they probably go to the worst-case scenario: a complete denial of someones humanity, a phenomenon relegated to torture chambers, battlefields and racist propaganda. But this is a misconception. Psychologists have shown that people often view their own group in more human terms, and in subtle ways can deny the full humanity of those outside of their group. In our review, we hypothesized that the more empathy someone feels toward another person, the less likely they are to experience schadenfreude when that person suffers. So in order for someone to feel schadenfreude toward another person whether its a rival, someone in an outgroup or someone whos committed a crime theyll need to subtly dehumanize them. Only then does the sufferers misfortune become rewarding. This theory hasnt been tested yet, so at the end of our review, we suggest ways schadenfreudes early origins and individual differences can be placed under scientific scrutiny to study this novel hypothesis. Linking schadenfreude with dehumanization might sound dark, especially because schadenfreude is such a universal emotion. But dehumanization occurs more often than most would like to think and we believe its behind the pang of pleasure you feel when you see someone fail. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/why-does-it-feel-good-to-see-someone-fail-107349. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Why-does-it-feel-good-to-see-someone-fail-13508022.php |
Will China's moon landing launch a new space race? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Wendy Whitman Cobb, Cameron University (THE CONVERSATION) China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on Jan. 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon, often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the moon is a technical achievement in its own right, one that neither Russia nor the United States has pursued. The probe, Change 4, is symbolic of the growth of the Chinese space program and the capabilities it has amassed, significant for China and for relations among the great power across the world. The consequences extend to the United States as the Trump administration considers global competition in space as well as the future of space exploration. One of the major drivers of U.S. space policy historically has been competition with Russia particularly in the context of the Cold War. Chinas achievements in space Like the U.S. and Russia, the Peoples Republic of China first engaged in space activities during the development of ballistic missiles in the 1950s. While they did benefit from some assistance from the Soviet Union, China developed its space program largely on its own. Far from smooth sailing, Mao Zedongs Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution disrupted this early programs. The Chinese launched their first satellite in 1970. Following this, an early human spaceflight program was put on hold to focus on commercial satellite applications. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping articulated Chinas space policy noting that, as a developing country, China would not take part in a space race. Instead, Chinas space efforts have focused on both launch vehicles and satellites - including communications, remote sensing and meteorology. This does not mean the Chinese were not concerned about the global power space efforts can generate. In 1992, they concluded that having a space station would be a major sign and source of prestige in the 21st century. As such, a human spaceflight program was re-established leading to the development of the Shenzhou spacecraft. The first Chinese astronaut, or taikonaut, Yang Liwei, was launched in 2003. In total, six Shenzhou missions have carried 12 taikonauts into low earth orbit, including two to Chinas first space station, Tiangong-1. In addition to human spaceflight, the Chinese have also undertaken scientific missions like Change 4. Its first lunar mission, Change 1, orbited the moon in October 2007 and a rover landed on the moon in 2013. Chinas future plans include a new space station, a lunar base and possible sample return missions from Mars. The most notable feature of the Chinese space program, especially compared to the early American and Russian programs, is its slow and steady pace. Because of the secrecy that surrounds many aspects of the Chinese space program, its exact capabilities are unknown. However, the program is likely on par with its counterparts. In terms of military applications, China has also demonstrated significant skills. In 2007, it undertook an anti-satellite test, launching a ground-based missile to destroy a failed weather satellite. While successful, the test created a cloud of orbital debris that continues to threaten other satellites. The movie Gravity illustrated the dangers space debris poses to both satellites and humans. In its 2018 report on the Chinese military, the Department of Defense reported that Chinas military space program continues to mature rapidly. Despite its capabilities, the U.S., unlike other countries, has not engaged in any substantial cooperation with China because of national security concerns. In fact, a 2011 law bans official contact with Chinese space officials. As a space policy researcher, I can say the answer is yes and no. Some U.S. officials, including Scott Pace, the executive secretary for the National Space Council, is cautiously optimistic about the potential for cooperation and does not see the beginning of a new space race. NASA Administrator Jim Brindenstine recently met with the head of the Chinese space program at the International Astronautical Conference in Germany and discussed areas where China and the U.S. can work together. However, increased military presence in space might spark increased competition. The Trump administration has used the threat posed by China and Russia to support their argument for a new independent military branch, a Space Force. Regardless, Chinas abilities in space are growing to the extent that is reflected in popular culture. In Andy Weirs 2011 novel The Martian and its later film version, NASA turns to China to help rescue their stranded astronaut. While competition can lead to advances in technology, as the first space race demonstrated, a greater global capacity for space exploration can also be beneficial not only for saving stranded astronauts but increasing knowledge about the universe where we all live. Even if Chinas rise heralds a new space race, not all consequences will be negative. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/will-chinas-moon-landing-launch-a-new-space-race-109359. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Will-China-s-moon-landing-launch-a-new-space-race-13508027.php |
Which NFL team playing in wild-card round of playoffs could make a Super Bowl run? | CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes helps you pick some winners heading into NFL wild-card weekend. USA TODAY Sports Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Photo: Evan Habeeb, USA TODAY Sports) Four more wins and a parade is what all of the teams playing in the NFL's wild-card round are targeting as the end to their seasons. But the fantasy has remained just that for all but a select few of those who have competed in the opening weekend of the playoffs. Not since the Baltimore Ravens' title run in the 2012 season has a team without a first-round bye advanced to the Super Bowl. Yet recent history isn't likely to deter any of the eight teams competing on Saturday and Sunday. Ravens. I love the versatility Lamar Jackson gives Baltimores offense. While his passing numbers arent great, he was impressive in the biggest games (the win over the Chargers and the loss in Kansas City). Besides, the Ravens defense is likely to keep games close enough that Jackson wont have to throw it a ton. The Ravens, in a close shave over the Chargers. Its weird to think that the first-round matchup at the Big ATM could be the de facto AFC title game, but Im sensing that whoever survives on Sunday will have a better-than-usual chance to run the AFC table and make it to Atlanta for LIII. I mean, L.A. won in Kansas City and Baltimore should have won in K.C. So going to Arrowhead (or The Razor in Foxborough, for that matter) wont faze either of these rugged, battle-tested teams. Ive picked Baltimore -- playing at home and on a tear (6-1) with Lamar Jackson at quarterback to ignite the unconventional, run-based offense -- to hand it to the Chargers again. But it would hardly be a shock if it went the other way, given L.A.s 7-1 road record, which tied New Orleans as best mark in the league. Then theres the other reason why Im bullish on Baltimore (and by extension, L.A.): Balance. The Ravens are the only team in the entire playoff field with an offense and defense both ranked in the top 10 in the NFL. And the Chargers nearly had a similar distinction, ranked 11th with Philip Rivers slinging it on offense and 9th on defense. Ill have my eyes firmly fixed to Sundays Chargers-Ravens rematch. I picked the Bolts to win the AFC back in July and still believe they have the talent to go all the way. But theyve unluckily drawn Lamar Jackson and Baltimores newly unorthodox offensive attack again one Los Angeles struggled to stop in Week 16 and while Philip Rivers and the offense barely put a dent into the leagues No. 1 defense. Hard to see the Chargers doing better while also trying to adjust to a 1:05 p.m. kickoff on the East Coast. That said, Im not sure anyone in the AFC is ready to cope with the Ravens. The best way to stem this physical, clock-grinding attack is to put them in a hole that forces Jackson to pass but good luck trying to torch that D. Only the Chiefs seem uniquely equipped to bolt out to a quick lead, yet they barely survived Jackson and Co. in the rookies fourth start, and that comeback required some ridiculous throws from Patrick Mahomes. So, yeah, Ill ride with the Ravens. Chicago. Once the Bears pass rush finds the chinks hiding in Eagles quarterback Nick Foles armor (or at least that of his supporting cast), Rams quarterback Jared Goff wont improve enough from the four-interception game he played vs. Chicago a month ago. Chicago has the balance to continue its improbable run. I want to say the Eagles, but although theyre experienced and confident, they arent as dangerous as some of the teams theyll face. So Im going to go with the Chargers. Theyve flown under the radar all season long, and I know they lost to Baltimore in Week 16, but theyre still very well-rounded and might be more stable than any other AFC team. Every other team has some questions or deficiencies about them, but Philip Rivers and Co. just might have it in them to make march to Atlanta. That the 12-4 Chargers are even playing in the wild-card round feels like an indictment of the NFL playoff system itself. But after losing out on a tiebreaker for the AFC West and top seed to the Chiefs, the Bolts finds themselves saddled with an opening-weekend showdown against a Ravens team that bested them just two weeks ago in Los Angeles. Yet Anthony Lynn's crew has gone 7-1 on the road this season, proving that it can beat the league's elite (including Kansas City) under even the most imposing circumstances. With an array of targets that can confound opposing secondaries and some of the league's most gifted defenders in Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Derwin James, the Chargers are an elite team merely despite the lower number next to their name. Im going to go with Baltimore for two reasons. They can run the ball and control the clock, and they have an aggressive defense with a solid pass rush. Id feel more comfortable with this pick if they had forced more than 17 turnovers all season long, but I think the Ravens present tough matchup problems. Another thing that worries me is the youth and inexperience especially at quarterback but Jackson excelled on big stages while in college, so if he can limit turnovers and mental mistakes, I could see the Ravens making a run. Theyve already won six of their last seven, anyway. Follow USA TODAY Sports' NFL coverage on Twitter @usatodaynfl. | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/01/04/nfl-playoffs-wild-card-teams-super-bowl-ravens-chargers/2479796002/ |
Does Washington's Reuben Foster deserve a 6-game suspension? | Washington linebacker Reuben Foster had his domestic violence charges dropped, clearing the way for his return to the playing field. Even though the charges were dropped, many feel he should be given the same punishment Ezekiel Elliott earned. Others feel his inclusion on the Commissioner's Exempt List shouldn't warrant that long of a suspension, especially if the charges were dropped. PERSPECTIVES After being charged with domestic violence, Foster was released on Nov. 25, claimed by Washington on Nov. 27, and placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List on the same day, effectively suspending him for the last five weeks of the season. While the domestic violence charge has been dropped, many people feel Foster should be officially suspended next season. Like the legal system, the NFL operates on precedent. Elliott was given a six-game ban for domestic abuse allegations a year before he was drafted in the league. Foster has had two domestic violence incidents while in the league. Being on the Commissioner's Exempt List shouldn't excuse him from deserved punishment. Foster should be suspended six games. Foster had the charges dropped and has never been proven guilty of anything. He shouldn't be punished further when he's already sat out games on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Suspending him for six games would be overkill. I don't think this is the same as Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott was not put on the commissioner's exempt list. I'd argue that Foster has already been suspended by not being allowed to play for 6 games in 2018. This personnel committee should argue that and it may end up in court. -- Shafiq Satterfield (@fiq_83) January 3, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/does_washingtons_reuben_foster.html |
What Does The Agency Of The Future Look Like? | The playing field is evening out among digital agencies. What each agency can produce is becoming increasingly similar because of universal access to technology, which I believe is leading to a lack of differentiation and, ultimately, stale results for clients. Most conversations about the future tend to focus on the types of tech platforms that agencies need to build or buy or the ideal size of an agency. I believe digital agencies need to rethink their approach to find a balance of technology, creativity and strategy. In my 12 years as a CEO, Ive learned that in order to stand out within a saturated market, agencies must evolve to become not only agencies but also consultancies, system integrators and digital product creators in order to offer a more well-rounded strategy. The agency of the future will likely need a technology-driven mindset that's grounded in innovation. I believe theyll need to be agile, led by strategy and rooted in data. Agencies should reassess what it means to be a creative digital partner. I believe the agency of the future will need to deliver strategies and results rooted in practical innovation, and to do so, they should foster strong talent focused on intrapreneurship and diverse thought. Agencies that harness the power of their people and build integrated teams will likely be better equipped to deliver more creative results and emerge as true agencies of the future. Technology Conformity Cannot Rule Creativity People Do I believe all companies, regardless of their industry, must reinvent themselves and adopt a technology-focused business approach. From healthcare to financial services to manufacturing, all industries are being disrupted by new breakthroughs in technology, design and innovation. However, agencies should also consider adopting this mindset to help clients become digital disruptors in their industries. The keys to utilizing new technology include practical innovation and integrated teams. By integrating expert teams of designers, developers and strategists, agencies can do something that technology cant: grasp what motivates people and how to design experiences that empower them to take action. Integrated teams usually look at projects from a comprehensive perspective and, by sharing knowledge, can work together to harness the functional tech that creates impactful results. Because this type of creativity grows from the inside out, I believe its crucial to encourage agency employees to lead with creativity driven by intrapreneurship and diversity of thought. Driving Agency Creativity Through Intrapreneurship Agency structure typically has defined teams, with each individual's career path mapped out. This can place employees in a box, making it hard for them to pursue ideas and experiences beyond their roles. I believe that agencies of the future will need to foster individual creativity to drive fresh strategies, which can happen when leaders encourage employees to find their passions. By cultivating a people-first culture that celebrates intrapreneurship, agencies can drive employee engagement. There isnt a one-size-fits-all approach, but the key is understanding that a career path is not only vertical but also horizontal. By looking at an individuals interests and helping them grow in experience, agencies can evolve by fostering internal talent. If a designer is focused on healthcare clients but has a passion for charity work, encourage them to meet with co-workers focused on nonprofit clients, or give them the tools to bring charity work into the agency. Asking where they see themselves growing and what theyre passionate about outside of work is a simple way to let them know that not only are they valued but also that they have the flexibility to get more involved and bring big client ideas to the table. Establishing core fundamentals through training, professional development and coaching can take agency intrapreneurship to the next level. Once employees know that they're set up for long-term success, theyll likely be motivated to accelerate their own growth and drive creative solutions to help clients and the agency succeed. Creating An Agency Of Challengers Through Diversity And Inclusion Diversity and inclusion can be the secret sauce for agencies to deliver unique digital strategies. Initiatives like Salesforce, whom we're a partner with, spending over $6 million to close its pay gaps based on gender, race and ethnicity are an example of a path to drive real change in the industry. Agencies of the future may need to do even more. Diversity initiatives don't have to come from the top down. Creating a dedicated diversity team can allow people across the agency to feel comfortable expressing what initiatives matter most to them and ensure that the efforts are authentic. Implementing meaningful changes, like offering feminine products in the bathrooms and creating comfortable spaces for employees with chronic migraines, can play a huge part in creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable. Inclusion means having an equal voice at the table, which starts with accessibility. At my company, for example, my co-CEO/co-founder and I ensure that everyones voice is heard by hosting weekly fireside chats with different levels of employees, as well as one-on-one onboarding processes. This allows us to encourage individuals to be challengers and to offer up ideas using their different communication styles and points of view. By fostering diversity and inclusion, agencies can shift to recognize every voice and create a culture of diverse thought, which can benefit clients by delivering innovative solutions through new perspectives. Theres no defined path and thats okay. Theres no set structure because the agency of the future likely won't be a cookie-cutter agency. Instead, surviving the agency apocalypse may require leaders to: Put practical innovation at the forefront of client work Create a sense of intrapreneurship among employees Encourage employees to challenge the status quo Foster a culture that's inclusive and celebrates diversity I believe the agencies that survive will be those that look to employees to create their personas and to be thinkers, doers and creators. Once agencies reestablish their personas and capabilities from the inside out, thats when well see the true agencies of the future emerge. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeschicagocouncil/2019/01/04/what-does-the-agency-of-the-future-look-like/ |
Is The World Really More VUCA Than Ever? | Wherever we look around us, we find claims and concerns that the world is increasingly getting out of control. Whether it is the business press, the media more generally, or our personal conversations, we are witnessing an increased feeling of uncertainty, turbulence, and change. This feeling has recently culminated in the notion of VUCA, the idea that the world has become unprecedentedly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (see here for a brief explanation). While a full assessment of whether this idea is correct is out of the scope this article, it is useful to briefly review it and not take it just for granted. On the one hand, it seems obvious. Through digitalization, big data, artificial intelligence, robotization, (de)globalization, terrorism, financial crises, climate change and global shifts in power, we feel an increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in the world around us. On the other hand, though, such feelings are as old as mankind and we can question whether our situation today is more VUCA than during the Black Death, World Wars I and II or when we discovered that the earth was neither flat nor the center of the universe. It is informative in this respect to compare current claims and concerns to older ones. If we compare, for example, Peter Hinssens "New Normal" from 2010 to Manuel Castells "Rise Of The Network Society" from 1996, the observed effects of digitalization on our world increased complexity, dynamism, connectedness, and so on are strikingly similar, with nearly 25 years in between. We can also look at some of the early issues of strategic management's oldest scientific journal, Long Range Planning. There we find papers with titles such as "Strategic Management: A New Managerial Concept For An Era Of Rapid Change" (1971), "Defence Planning: The Uncertainty Factor" (1971), and "Planning In A State Of Turbulence" (1977). This is more than forty years ago and as these titles suggest, VUCA was experienced then as well. The fact that VUCA claims are of all ages doesnt automatically imply that they are false or irrelevant. It is quite likely that the speed of change in many industries is much faster now than ten or twenty years ago. Enabled by (digital) technology and driven by changing customer needs, this increased volatility is real for many organizations. And yes, due to greater variety in supply and demand, increased (online) connectedness between people and between organizations, and increased globalization, the complexity of doing business has probably increased too. However, due to technological enhancements, we have also become much more capable of dealing with this increased volatility and complexity. Computing power and speed, the omnipresence of information, the development of complex algorithms, artificial intelligence and the digital connectedness of the world, enable us to make dramatically more complex analyses and respond dramatically faster than even a decade ago. Thus, even though volatility and complexity probably have increased, our increased ability to deal with them does not directly mean that this has made doing business also more difficult. While volatility and complexity can be established and measured quite objectively, uncertainty and ambiguity are more of a perceptual nature. In various definitions, the latter two are even proposed to be a result of the former two: the more volatile and complex a situation, the more uncertain and ambiguous we perceive it. This means that whether we experience the world is more uncertain and ambiguous, depends to a large extent on our ability to deal with its volatility and complexity. My experiences in executive MBA teaching and consulting is that this perception is quite age-dependent and something particularly found at managers above fifty. This is supported by psychological research that shows, for example, that the older we get, the quicker time seems to pass by and the harder we find it to cope with the changes around us. Another important question is whether the four elements of VUCA reflect on-going, fluctuating, gradual developments or whether we now witness a dramatic increase in all four of them. The latter is often suggested. This is understandable. It is more dramatic and makes for better headlines. But the first seems much more likely: that VUCA represents four continuously varying factors that increase and decrease over time, dependent on which part of the world and which industry you are in. If we leave alone the question whether or not the world as a whole has become more VUCA than ever before, we can observe that most industries, at some point in time, do have VUCA characteristics. However, most industries are not VUCA all the time, and very often also not to an extreme degree. Rather, they typically go through disruptive phases alternating with more stable periods where even the disruptive periods are often spread over a couple of years. Furthermore, companies may have a diverse portfolio of products and services, some of which in markets that are VUCA and some in markets that are relatively stable, predictable, simple and clear. From this quick review of the VUCA idea, we can thus take that the world might indeed be VUCA. But at the same time, this was also the case ten, twenty, or even fifty years ago. Furthermore, many aspects of business might not be so sensitive to the VUCA-ness of the world and companies often have portfolios of products in markets with different degrees of VUCA. Finally, the same technological advancements that cause VUCA, also help us to deal with it better than ever before. It just depends on how, where and when you look and who is looking. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeroenkraaijenbrink/2019/01/04/is-the-world-really-more-vuca-than-ever/ |
Should Celgene Investors Take Bristol's Money and Run? | In 2018, Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) relied on just two products to drive growth, and the pharma giant's late-stage development pipeline looks like Old Mother Hubbard's cupboards. Investors know that Bristol-Myers needs to do something to continue pushing the needle forward, but a $74 billion offer for Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG) might not have been what they had in mind. Celgene shareholders will receive a combination of cash and Bristol-Myers Squibb stock. Frightened person running with a briefcase bursting with cash. More Image source: Getty Images. What Celgene shareholders get Assuming the deal completes as intended, Celgene investors have a few reasons to stick around. For each share of Celgene, they'll receive one share of Bristol-Myers Squibb, $50 upfront, and another $9 if three drugs in late-stage development earn FDA approval in a timely manner. Celgene shareholders who hang on will also begin receiving a quarterly dividend that offers a 3.6% yield at Bristol's recent stock price. Bristol has two key growth drivers pulling a train of established brands uphill. During the first nine months of 2018, Opdivo sales grew 35% to $4.9 billion, and Eliquis sales grew 35% to $4.7 billion. Generic competition for established brands pulled Bristol's top line in the opposite direction, which limited total year-to-year sales growth to just 8% during the period. Bristol-Myers expects to record adjusted earnings of at least $3.80 per share for all of 2018, and at least $4.10 per share in 2019, excluding any impact from the Celgene acquisition. Celgene shareholders eager to fire Mark Alles over the ozanimod debacle of 2018 will also get their wish: Bristol-Myers CEO Giovanni Caforio will continue to serve as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the combined company. More reasons to hold on To get investors on board, Bristol-Myers pointed at six experimental new drugs in late-stage development that have $15 billion in total -- not annual -- revenue potential. That figure seems entirely reasonable considering EvaluatePharma recently estimated their combined net present value at $25.2 billion, a figure that accounts for positive and negative cash flows, plus how long it could take to achieve them. A lot of Celgene's top-line sales already flow to the bottom line. Over the past year, Celgene generated a whopping $4.2 billion in free cash flow, with just $15.2 billion in top-line sales, and the same operations are about to become a lot more profitable. Bristol-Myers Squibb already has around 22,000 employees who perform many of the same functions as counterparts at Celgene who racked up $3.2 billion in sales and administrative expenses over the past year. | https://news.yahoo.com/celgene-investors-bristol-apos-money-130700633.html |
What Happened To Print Advertising? | Buying a magazine at a newsstand feels so special now. At $5.99, $7.99 or more, it's pricey compared to the digital version but if youre traveling and need a screen break or something to read during takeoff, a magazine is a cozy indulgence. The love of print Magazine ads were once the foundational communications challenge. As a copywriter early in my career, it was just me and the art director, armed with a brief from the strategic planner. We were given a consumer insight, a desired perception or behavior change and specs for the media buy. Wed crank out a hundred ideas, and sell three to the client as a series. There would be an argument about the size of the logo and if there should be an 800-number and in later years, the web site listed. Fantasies of winning a One Show pencil, D&AD or Kelly award kept us motivated. You didn't need study under George Lois or Don Draper to know the basics and have a bar for what good is. There is a century of proven lessons in how print advertising can effectively and creatively build brands and drive demand. Look at this great classic library on Pinterest great examples from DeBeers, Avis, ABC TV, The Economist and VW. Marketing Sherpa had a study in 2016 that showed print advertising as the most trusted format when making a purchase. Over TV, radio, even search. Forbes has also previously covered the challenges of (and opportunities for) print. Pick up a magazine and judge for yourself So fast forward to the current marketing era, when picking up a recent issue of Bloomberg BusinessWeek at the airport. The editorial content of the magazine was good, but if you can't resist glancing at the ads in between, lower your expectations and read on: BMW , no stranger to great advertising, has a full page ad with a photo of a slick new model and a headline that simply says THE 8. Thats it. Its at least a $100,000 car and they couldnt afford a proper headline with a verb. The car is gorgeous but this approach puts all the pressure on the image which may appeal to some, but not surface what might matter for others. In the bottom right corner, paired with the iconic checkered-propeller logo is the brand name fully written out "Bayerische Motoren Werke" which is kinda clever and kinda classy but Im not sure why theyre doing it. , no stranger to great advertising, has a full page ad with a photo of a slick new model and a headline that simply says THE 8. Thats it. Its at least a $100,000 car and they couldnt afford a proper headline with a verb. The car is gorgeous but this approach puts all the pressure on the image which may appeal to some, but not surface what might matter for others. In the bottom right corner, paired with the iconic checkered-propeller logo is the brand name fully written out "Bayerische Motoren Werke" which is kinda clever and kinda classy but Im not sure why theyre doing it. Financial products company Athene runs a full-page ad with four executives in black suits and white shirts walking like marionettes. The headline: Its time to break free from conventional thinking. The four folks are ethnically diverse. It took 10 minutes of research, but its not stock art; the image is essentially a screen grab from their TV spot about disrupting convention. As of this writing, the same headline and image is also on the website home page. This tells me that the while the brand admirably seeks consistency across channels, it hasn't yet invested in purposeful channel strategies (i.e., how best to use the web, how to use print, etc). runs a full-page ad with four executives in black suits and white shirts walking like marionettes. The headline: Its time to break free from conventional thinking. The four folks are ethnically diverse. It took 10 minutes of research, but its not stock art; the image is essentially a screen grab from their TV spot about disrupting convention. As of this writing, the same headline and image is also on the website home page. This tells me that the while the brand admirably seeks consistency across channels, it hasn't yet invested in purposeful channel strategies (i.e., how best to use the web, how to use print, etc). Mutual of America must have briefed its agency (or in-house team) with the strategy of Real people answering the phone since its ad has a nice broker over the shoulder of a nice affluent couple with the nice headline: When you need someone to talk about your retirement plan, its good to actually have a person. Theres nothing really wrong with this, since its a true statement and is a competitive posture against impersonal automation. The challenge for me is that this is not different from 100 other up-market players who tout live customer service. Mutual of America is actually an interesting organization, with a regional approach, high third-party ratings and some good testimonials on their website. Theres got to be something more compelling to say for this expensive ad unit. must have briefed its agency (or in-house team) with the strategy of Real people answering the phone since its ad has a nice broker over the shoulder of a nice affluent couple with the nice headline: When you need someone to talk about your retirement plan, its good to actually have a person. Theres nothing really wrong with this, since its a true statement and is a competitive posture against impersonal automation. The challenge for me is that this is not different from 100 other up-market players who tout live customer service. Mutual of America is actually an interesting organization, with a regional approach, high third-party ratings and some good testimonials on their website. Theres got to be something more compelling to say for this expensive ad unit. Emirates, arguably the most fabulous luxury airline in the world, advertises its first class comforts your own apartment in the sky. It probably could have said anything interesting, but the winner is a handsome man in a white sport coat, maroon pants, clutching a Scotch, gazing ahead, with the accompanying line: Enjoy your own PRIVATE ESCAPE. Not untrue, but some of the copy on the website is better: Experience true luxury with your own private hotel room in the sky. Game changing technology includes temperature controls and mood lighting, an industry first with virtual windows, and soft leather seating reminiscent of a Mercedes=Benz S-Class. Wow. Print ads in top-tier business pubs like Bloomberg BusinessWeek can run anywhere from $25,000 to $60,000 for a full page ad. They certainly dont build the brand, and none as I could see had a compelling reason for direct response with an offer or strong call to action. They live in a vacuous no-whereville of wanting to announce a product and drive demand, without applying the best practices of what drives demand. Some people did get the memo. I found this gallery from A Nerds World with some good examples of print, including a hilarious ad from Pedigree that riffs on gaming and pet control and also a collection of interactive ads, including one for Moto X around customization that appeared in Wired by a team I knew at Publicis. So bring on augmented reality, bring back strong concepts including real headlines and calls to action. If you need a refresher take it from my favorite teacher, David Ogilvy. His advice for advertising is perfect for print. Print, after, all is not dead even if its soul seems shallow. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/matzucker/2019/01/04/what-happened-to-print/ |
What Does Executive Leadership Look Like In The World Of Tomorrow? | As Sophocles said, Heaven never helps the man who will not act. Legend has it that if you drop a frog into hot water, it jumps out. But put the same frog in cold water and heat it gradually, and the frog stays put. Lulled into complacency, it simply boils to death. For business leaders, the teaching is relevant and profound. As change heats the pot that forms our world, our impulse is to resist change. But this could be a mistake. Just look at how we continue to advance global warming or cling to dying industries. We owe it to ourselves and each other to do better. What follows are six truths about the future of business I envision as a veteran CEO in the people analytics industry that I would encourage every leader to consider. 1. Decisions will be supported by big data. Executives rely on gut instincts. We have to: The pressure to make rapid-fire decisions is constant. But according to Daniel Kahnemans Nobel-winning research and his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, the cognitive biases that inform gut decisions can lead to false conclusions. With the mind-boggling volumes of consumer and internet of things (IoT) data being generated with every click, share and swipe, I believe its imperative that data become an integral part of how we make decisions. Take, for example, the marketing field; once powered by gut instinct in the age of Mad Men, marketing can now leverage complex data analytics to inform decision making for everything from buying ads to creating social media content. Collecting data is the easy part. Whats harder is discovering insights and then learning to believe them. New analytics solutions arrive daily to help curb biases, correct errors and model the best potential outcomes for decision-making. The sooner CEOs get comfortable incorporating these into day-to-day thinking, the better. 2. Virtually every company will be a global company. Globalization is likely here to stay. According to the European Centre for International Political Economy, it can make products cheaper, provide access to growth opportunities, and mitigate cost inflation. There are many factors to consider. But every country I know of that has ever attempted to exit from international trade has stagnated. This shift could be particularly challenging to Americans accustomed to the notion that the U.S. is king. In 2013, McKinsey estimated that by 2025, more than 45% of Fortune 500 companies will be from emerging markets, including greater China. This does not mean that the U.S. has to give up its exceptionalism. We can lead by example. Above all, I believe we have to participate in order to be taken seriously. 3. Your company can benefit from being an artificial intelligence (AI) business. Over time, software has become one of the primary levers for generating value in business. We use it to automate manual processes and enable instant and complex communication. All of these advances, from my perspective, arose from the speed and accuracy of computer processing, with little incremental knowledge gained. Artificial intelligence adds a crucial dimension: machine learning and optimization based on data. Now, to stay viable, every business will likely need to invest in AI. Gartner estimates that 85% of CIOs will be piloting AI programs by 2020. The question becomes not if you will incorporate AI, but how. Choosing which functions will benefit from AI, and when, will be of critical importance. 4. The skills gap is at your doorstep. For the first time I've seen in recent U.S. history, CNBC reported we had more job openings than corresponding skilled labor in July 2018. A decade ago, many of these jobs didnt exist. The term "data scientist" was coined in 2008; now, CIO reports that job postings for data scientists on Indeed are up 75% from 2015. While people over 50 can probably still reliably expect to stay in their trained profession, this is not true for younger workers. To remain relevant, I expect they will need to completely reskill themselves every 710 years. As the half-life of a skill (now two-and-a-half to five years, according to Deloitte) falls, and data and AI proliferate, we need to look beyond simple recruiting to broad-based retention and retraining. Our challenge will be to identify the necessary skills and develop adequate training. It will be difficult for universities to predict demand. Companies must assume responsibility, since they may be the first to recognize and suffer from the skills gap. 5. Cryptocurrency could come to your industry soon. Cryptocurrency enables people to buy anything, anywhere without taxation, an audit trail or government oversight. Today, cryptocurrencies are known for their part in shady business practices. But they are here, likely forever, despite governmental attempts to legislate them out of existence. Businesses may need to figure out how to co-exist with cryptocurrencies even to the extent of using crypto in lieu of established currencies. 6. Youll soon be grappling with tough, climate-driven questions. According to The Wall Street Journal (paywall), Hurricane Florence and Irma each caused well over $30 billion in damage, taking fatalities and leaving many homes flooded and powerless. Last summer, it seemed at times that the whole North American West Coast was on fire (paywall). Emergency planning is an obvious imperative for every CEO. But as climate-related emergencies become commonplace, considerations and costs will accumulate. We are already (literally) feeling the heat. While governments may be unwilling to take unpopular action, businesses cannot afford the luxury of fiddling while Rome burns. Boards may not forgive the CEO who did not prepare for the climate emergency or the cryptocurrency takeover. Lets take action before the water boils and it is too late. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/01/04/what-does-executive-leadership-look-like-in-the-world-of-tomorrow/ |
Why Isn't 'Fortnite' Going Away? | Its 2019, and after Fortnite has dominated the video game industry for roughly 10 of the last 12 months since exploding in popularity last spring, you would think its influence would be waning a bit. And yet somehow 450,000 people in the last 24 hours are reading my guide about how to find a single hidden battle star on the map, 20x the traffic anything else I write about would get. Fortnite has yet to go through even the people are still playing that? phase that Pokmon GO went through after being a huge initial hit. But Fortnites massive influence was not constrained to two post-launch weeks and being a sleeper monster hit after that like GO has been. Fortnites success is big and public and in your face every day. A number of reasons. The Game Changes Constantly Fortnites has kept the game engaging with at least one new meta-changing item added a week (sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, but its always interesting) and the constantly shifting the map throughout its seasonal model. Weve seen rockets launch and meteors crash and iceberg castles hit land. Its one map but it and the game within it are constantly evolving, and not through paid DLC or expansions that have the potential to leave any players behind. Epic Is Lightning Fast And Listens Well Many games can find themselves sunk even with a singular jump the shark moment when something changes to make everything bad. Epic has generally been extremely reactive to fan feedback over changes or new items, often times changing things the same day if theres a problem, or within a week if its something the community collectively decides is a net negative, like we saw with the removal of the Infinity Blade. Even if mythic weapons were a concept that Epic probably worked long and hard on for season 7, they had no problem scrapping it within days of it being clear it was a big problem for the health of the game. Thats how you survive. Nobody Hates The Microtransaction Model In an era where it feels like every game is trying to gouge its players, almost no one has anything bad to say about Fortnites F2P microtransaction model which has brought in $3 billion in revenue for Epic this year alone. Fortnite is free, it sells a season pass where players play to unlock things, and it sells individual cosmetics in a rotating store front, with not a loot box in sight. Yes, theyre pricey, but theyre also optional and the base game is free, so its just hard to find any reason to be mad about the current set-up, and few games have been able to emulate this model for reasons I cant quite understand. All Fortnites Biggest Influences Are Still Playing Fortnite Fortnite has turned Ninja, Dr.Lupo, Myth, TimtheTatman, Tfue, CourageJD and countless others into household names in the gaming community, andalmost all of those content creators and streamers are still playing Fortnite. Oftentimes games will lose some of their biggest community leaders to other titles over time, but all of Fortnites big names are still going strong with a mutually beneficial relationship that brings them a huge audience and a lot of money while Epic gets gaming influencers promoting their product endlessly. And theres no end in sight. There's No "The New Fortnite" Competition Fortnite feels like its in the WoW/LoL position of simply having won the battle royale genre without anyone else having a chance to come close to it. Once it passed PUBG, no one could catch it, and if Call of Dutys Blackout hasnt come close to unseating it, nothing else will, except of the entire industry just moves on to whatever the next popular genre is besides battle royale (which hasnt happened yet). This secure position could cause complacency, I suppose, but we havent seen any evidence of that from Epic yet. Fortnite Is More Than A Game, Its A Social Network Fortnite is so big its expanded beyond simply being a game. It has created its own footprint in pop culture through memes and shared icons. It has become essentially a social network for a generation of kids who meet up in game mostly to hang out as they just happen to kill things, though you can now also just chill in Playground and Creative mode without even doing that. Ive never really seen this since maybe Minecraft, and this is even bigger than that. Fortnite may have peaked in 2018, who knows, but it does seem like its going to be an important force in gaming for a while longer. Epic has handled Fortnites popularity extremely well, and between creators and players, is going to have a massive fanbase for a long time to come. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read my new sci-fi thriller novel Herokiller, available now in print and online. I also wrote The Earthborn Trilogy. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2019/01/04/why-isnt-fortnite-going-away/ |
Is Chelsea move the right step for Pulisic? | And there is no simple answer. Scroll to continue with content Ad [ MORE: Pulisic issues statement ] We all know that Pulisic was destined to play in the Premier League. He has said time and time again that he hoped to move there one day, and his love for the league is clear after his spell living in England as a youngster and watching closely from Hershey, Pennsylvania growing up. The fact Pulisic has arrived at one of the biggest clubs on the planet for such a massive transfer fee is a monumental moment for American soccer. He has arrived at Chelsea for a huge $73 million fee and will join them in the summer after being loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the current campaign. The players remaining at Chelsea when Pulisic arrives in the summer will likely dictate if his move to England and the Premier League is a successful one. Chelsea host Southampton on Wednesday (Watch live, 2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com) at Stamford Bridge and our Premier League analysts will be breaking down Pulisics move. Pro Soccer Talk understands that Pulisic has been told that some key attacking players at Chelsea will be moved on between now and this summer to allow him to become a key player for the west London club. That is crucial as Pulisic has been on the outside looking in at Dortmund in recent months due to a few small injuries and the amazing form of Englands Jadon Sancho in his place. In that sense, Dortmund getting the cash they have for a player with 18 months left on his contract is great business, and Pulisic will feel like hes upgraded too. [ STREAM: Watch every PL match live ] Story continues He is not the first youngster to arrive at the Blues with huge expectations placed upon him, as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku all failed to break through (under Jose Mourinho, not someone who gives youth a chance might we add) and reinforced the notion that Chelsea is a no-go zone for top young players. With Chelseas revolving door policy with managers, it is also a risky place for a player to fall out of favor quickly. Pulisics character has so far seen him deal comfortably with being the golden boy of American soccer and he will be unfazed by everything swirling around him in the Premier League. Aside from the huge marketing potential Chelsea will see in having the first global American superstar in their squad, they have paid this huge fee for a reason. They believe in Pulisics talents. Despite that, getting into this Chelsea team will be tough for Pulisic to do on a weekly basis. At least at first. If Eden Hazard does stay at Chelsea and doesnt head to Real Madrid, Pulisic will be fighting with Willian and Pedro for the one remaining spot out wide. However, his arrival is likely to signal the departure of either Willian or Pedro, or maybe both, and even if one of their wingers remains Maurizio Sarri has played with three wingers going forward many times this season. Having Hazard as a false nine with Pulisic and Willian buzzing around him could work very well. That said, you cannot brush aside Chelseas track record of stockpiling young talent and then seeing many of their careers stagnating at Stamford Bridge. Pulisic falls into a slightly different category, but academy products Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nathaniel Chalboah, Nathan Ake, Tammy Abraham and many others have all had to move elsewhere (either on loan or permanently) to try and kick-start their careers. The fact that Chelsea splashed this cash to sign Pulisic proves they are going to use him and he will be a key cog under Sarri. And that is perhaps the biggest plus for him signing for Chelsea. Sarri loves players who are able to possess the ball and press high up the pitch. That suits Pulisics game to a tee, and if Hazard stays this summer he will be able to link up and learn from one of the best players on the planet. Even if Hazard leaves then Pulisic will be given a greater responsibility to be Chelseas main attacking threat. He may not score as many goals as he would like, but his creativity, pace and ability to play in multiple positions means he will slot into this Chelsea system seamlessly. Liverpools front three are going nowhere, and although Pulisic has a great relationship with Jurgen Klopp, a move to Anfield just didnt seem like a good fit, at least right now. If he gets the opportunity to play regularly, as he should do, then this move looks perfect for Pulisic. | https://sports.yahoo.com/chelsea-move-step-pulisic-120510309.html?src=rss |
How do I talk to my father about his infidelity? | It is easy to vilify the one who has been unfaithful, says Annalisa Barbieri, but they are often firing a distress flare on a relationship thats already in trouble My parents divorced when I was five. I still remember the night they sat me and my sisters down, and Dad told us that he and Mum didnt love each other any more. I remember clinging on to his hand as he walked down the stairs on the day he left home, and afterwards crying to my mother late at night about how I missed him. I am now in my mid-20s. When I was a teenager, Mum told me they divorced because he had been unfaithful. She said he had been under a lot of pressure at work, but that when her father died, she needed to support her mother, and my father felt he wasnt getting the emotional help he needed. I have never spoken to him about this so many years have passed and I want to know how I should go about it now. He is a complex man highly intelligent, but emotionally immature. My guess is he could quickly become defensive and angry. But I have been carrying my own feelings with me for most of my life, and think I deserve a proper explanation. He has never had to account for his behaviour to the one most affected by it, and that feels wrong. Im also at the stage in life when I am considering becoming a father, and cant understand how he could make a decision that would lead to him not seeing his own every day. He remarried years ago and has a daughter with his new wife (not the woman he was unfaithful with). I resent that he has another chance at a family life, while I still struggle with anxiety and insecurity, which may be caused by his abandonment of my sisters and me. I should add that he has always been part of my life, and I know he loves me and my sisters deeply. I am angry with him, but I also want to hear his perspective on what happened. I think what you are asking is understandable and admirable, but you need to approach it differently. Rather than looking for him to account for his behaviour, try to think of it as finding out more about your father. I can totally understand your motivation. But I want you to get a conversation going so you can get answers; if you make him defensive, I fear you may feel even worse. It is easy to vilify the person who has been unfaithful, but its often they who are firing the distress flare on a relationship that is already in trouble. I think your mother has hinted at this. But your parents must take responsibility for their behaviour, and it sounds as if your mother was left behind to pick up the pieces. That she didnt tell you the details until you were old enough to handle them is laudable. As you are getting older, perhaps you are realising that relationships are trickier than they seem when you are a child. Im impressed you want to get another point of view on this, and are employing some critical thinking in a situation that clearly still causes you angst. You have asked me how to start this conversation; unravelling family history and, perhaps, challenging what you think you know, is rarely a one-off event. These conversations take time, and require building up to. People keep asking why I dont have children. I dont know what to say Read more Of course your father doesnt want to raise this. I would imagine he carries a lot of guilt. Start the conversation slowly, and when you are both at ease (side-by-side conversations often work best in these situations, rather than the intensity of face-to-face). Could you say something honest like, Id like to be a dad one day what was it like for you when you first became a father? and build up from there. As I said, it may take a few conversations. If your father becomes defensive and angry, then pause and say, I can see this is causing you pain, but its causing me pain, too. How can we help each other? But try not to be afraid of his anger and defensiveness think of them as layers that you have to get through. It might be an idea to discuss what happened before you get into how it made you feel. I had a situation in my own family; something that happened when I was the age you were when your father left. In the end I talked over some years to all but one of the people involved. Doing that really helped the adult me lift the child me out of the situation I had found myself in. What once burned a hole in my heart doesnt touch me any more. I have simply folded it into my family history. Send your problem to [email protected]. Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure the discussion remains on the topics raised by the article. | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/04/my-father-was-unfaithful-how-do-i-talk-to-him-about-it-annalisa-barbieri |
How Will the Shutdown End? | This week, the third shutdown of the federal government in 2018 became the first government shutdown of 2019. For more than two weeks now, a partial shutdown has dragged on following President Donald Trumps refusal to sign a spending bill passed by both a majority in the lame-duck Republican House and unanimously in the GOP-held Senate. The reason for Trumps intransigence is simple: he wants any spending bill to include $5 billion to pay for a wall on the Mexico-U.S. borderthe central policy goal of his 2016 campaign and which he consistently promised that Mexico would pay for. Story Continued Below Congressional approval of a border wall seemed unlikely even when Trumps fellow Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress. Now that a new Congress has been sworn in and the House is firmly in Democratic handsand with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowing not to authorize a single dime for the construction of a border walla resolution to the impasse seems, at the moment, unimaginable. We asked 11 top political strategists, pundits and observers from across the political spectrum how they think the shutdown will end. Heres what they had to say. It will end with Trump declaring victory regardless of the actual outcome Anita Dunn is managing director at SKDKnickerbocker, was a senior adviser to President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign and served as White House communications director in 2009. It is likely that the shutdown will end before the State of the Union (still to be scheduled, but traditionally late January) and it will end with President Trump declaring victory and progress on getting the wall built, regardless of the actual outcome. In the alternate reality, Congress will fund border security at roughly the same levels it would have funded border security in December. House Republicans will NOT use the wall (or even beautiful steel slats) as a recruitment talking point in the districts they lost in 2018, and Members of Congress will try to pretend the whole thing never happened. Trump will propose a fix for DACA recipients in exchange for at least half of the $5 billion dollars in funding for the border wall Alfonso Aguilar is president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles Because the shutdown is partial, it seems that both sides are not in a hurry or feel as much pressure to reach a deal. Both will take time to score points with their base. The shutdown will, therefore, continue easily for another 10 days. By next week, however, the White House and congressional Democrats will begin serious negotiations that will lead to an agreement that allows both of them to save face and claim some sort of victory. President Trump will take the first step and proposeto the chagrin of his nativist immigration aide Stephen Millera fix for DACA recipients in exchange for at least half of the $5 billion dollars in funding for the border wall he has requested. This will turn the table on Pelosi and Schumer. If they insist on not including any money for the wall when the president is showing flexibility and willing to negotiate, they will come across as intransigent and only interested in playing politics with the immigration issue. After some initial push back, they will accept the deal but will demandand Republicans will acceptthat the final legislative language not include the term wall but alternative terminology such as strategic fencing, which in practical and policy terms means exactly the same. The shutdown will end around January 12th. The government will open very quickly if Dems offer future chances for a border wall Paul Winfree is director of the Heritage Foundations Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies and former White House budget policy director for President Trump. Thus far, Congressional Democrats seem to be offering only paths that would roll back the administrations policies while eliminating current and future opportunities to deliver on border security. Thats not exactly a strategy for progress if the goal is to the open the government. I suspect that the government will open very quickly once Democrats offer Trump the ability to make progress on the border infrastructure while creating future opportunities for evaluation and debate by limiting the amount of money available for construction relative to the Presidents request. Amidst plummeting approval ratings, Trump will be forced to sign a compromise without a wall Neera Tanden is president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank. Speaker Nancy Pelosiwho, unlike her predecessor Paul Ryan, is capable of governingwill pass legislation in the House which mirrors the bill that the Senate has already unanimously approved. Eventually, Senators who supported this same package just two weeks agoparticularly Republicans facing reelection in 2020, such as Cory Gardner, Susan Collins, Joni Ernst, and Thom Tilliswill recognize that refusing to reenact the Houses resolution will constitute their first flip-flop of the upcoming campaign cycle. Once the Senate decides to abide by the terms of its previous agreement, President Trump will be forced to sign this legislation amidst plummeting approval ratings. He will then issue a rambling and fraudulent tweet boasting that the new spending bill funds his border wall. Sadly, this is a lie that his base is likely to believe. It should end with a grand compromise: The Dream Act, plus a border barrier Frank Luntz is a pollster and communications strategist who has worked for a wide array of clients in the business and Republican political world. I dont know how it will end, but I do know how it should end: with a grand compromise that includes the Dream Act for Democrats and funding for border security and a barrier or the Republicans. Everyone can get what they care about most, and the public can once again get a government that functions. If we focus on delivering for our constituents rather than beating the opposition, we can achieve so much. It wont be a physical wall, but the language will by written in a way that Trump can claim I got my wall Michael Steele is the former chairman of the Republican National Committee. President Trump and Speaker Pelosi have entered the Shutdown Ring, circling each other like prize fighters looking for each others weakness to exploit with one quick and stunning blow. Unfortunately, the only people getting punched are the more than 800,000 federal workers who arent getting paid. Given Trump and Pelosis posturing, dont expect a quick end to the madness: Speaker Pelosi has absolutely no incentive to give the president $5 billion for a wall, and the president has every incentive to blame the Democrats for the shutdown. I suspect that by January 29, the tentative date of the State of the Union speech, something close to $2 billion will be appropriated for border security. It wont be a physical wall, but the language will be written in a way that Trump can claim I got my wallremember, hes down to slats at this point. This shutdown will end with Trump capitulating on the wall Rick Wilson is a Republican political strategist and the author of Everything Trump Touches Dies. This shutdown will end with Trump capitulating on the wall. The White House hasnt felt any of the pain and chaos from it yet, and the pressures that come with 800,000 federal employees sitting home without pay will rise and rise. Trumps disregard for federal workers is one thing; the damage will ramify across the economy and the political sphere as this game drags out. The only hope the White House has right now is that Schumer blinks, though it looks like the Democrats have the political will to hold the line. Theyd be fools not to; this is a massive, singular issue on which Trump bet 100 percent of his credibility. He put his head on the chopping block and handed Pelosi the axe. Uncertainty will continue until Senate Republicans wake up and find their groove Donna Brazile is the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and managed Al Gores 2000 presidential campaign. The newly elected Democratic majority in the House of Representatives will take the lead by offering proposals that would normally get us back to the negotiating tableTrump enjoys playing by his own set of rules. Uncertainty will continue until Senate Republicans wake up and find their groove to lead with or without the President. Especially as the economy falters, the president needs some street cred with his base, and he might try to find it in badgering Democrats. The challenge for him is that in trying to get Congress to pay for his border wall, he risks highlighting the fact he was unable to make good on his single biggest campaign promise from 2016: that he would build a wall, and Mexico would pay for it. The longer this shutdown drags on, the bigger the risk for Trump. Of course, he could come clean by telling the American people that he needs taxpayers the foot the bill for the wallperhaps hell get more by telling us the truth than forcing innocent public servants to play his foolish game of chickenbut I doubt hell do that. There must be fencing the Obama folks created that can be extended or renewed at a modest increase in spending David Gergen is the director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a former White House adviser to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. The only certainty about the shutdown is that it will end. Democrats are holding the high cards at the momentand Nancy Pelosi is playing a more skillful game than Donald Trumpbut the longer the impasse, the more the public will blame both parties. Each side, then, needs to find a quiet way stop this craziness soonand in truth, it shouldnt be that hard. There must be fencing the Obama folks created that can be extended or renewed at a modest increase in spending. Dems can then claim they are beefing up security just like Obama; Trump in turn can claim that barriers are longer and even higher than in the past. On both sides, there are already hints that they could also agree to a compromise on spending levels. What about each side designating three negotiators and passing a continuing resolution giving them two weeks to finish, letting federal workers return to their jobs immediately and promise to protect their back pay. It shouldnt even take two weeks to get it done. One thing is for sure: the public is sick of political stuntsour leaders in Washington are bound to see that, get this one behind us, and move on. Who will cave: Pelosi or Trump? Sophia A. Nelson is a former Republican counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, and author of the book, E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders Vision for a United America. Given President Trumps bizarre appearance in the White House Briefing Room on Thursday afternoon, I think we are in for a rough road and a long standoff. If Trumps press conference is any indication, he will stand his ground on the border wall and hold out for money for his wall. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a smart and savvy leader, has vowed not to give any funding for a wall, and knows that she cannot allow the Democrats to get the blame for this shutdown. My money is that Pelosi comes out the winner here, as Republicans in Congress lose patience as Trump drifts further and further away from the simple reality that most Americans care more about their personal financial security than about a border wall. The shutdown will end when Fox News tells Trump to end it Adam Jentleson is public affairs director at Democracy Forward, former president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and was a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. This feels different than past shutdowns. There is no obvious endgame and Trump is firmly ensconced in a Fox News bubble, unresponsive to rational inputs. It will end when Fox News tells him to end itthats the most Im confident predicting. | https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/01/04/how-will-government-shutdown-end-223691 |
Can St. Paul's 'Top Chef' contestant survive the pressure cooker of Restaurant Wars? | Never do a Champagne toast to your impending victory while soaking in a hot tub of hubris. Thats the lesson learned on Top Chef, as the shows Restaurant Wars challenge wrapped up Wednesday night miserably for our hometown hero, Justin Sutherland. Last week, Sutherland and his overconfident teammates jinxed themselves with that hot tub toast. This week, their Blue Team is altogether crashing and burning, and Sutherland chef at St. Pauls Handsome Hog isnt looking too good. To recap, Restaurant Wars is the big challenge of the season, where the chefs team up to conceive, design and execute a brand-new restaurant in two days. When we left our chefs in the first of this two-parter, Sutherlands team was struggling with front-of-the-house training. Chef Nini Nguyen was in charge of bringing the servers up to speed, but wasnt doing a very good job of it. Sutherland, who was in the executive chef role, was stomping around and cursing loudly. Things dont look much better in the second part, as the servers keep mixing up tables and questioning Nguyen about how a guest will be able to eat soup if she doesnt have a fork and a knife. In the kitchen, chefs Sutherland, David Viana and Kelsey Barnard Clark are way behind schedule and have to shuck oysters to order. Meanwhile, Nguyens ice cream is melting down. So is Sutherland, by the time the judges, a table of six, sit down to eat at the teams Third Coast restaurant. Customers arent getting their food, the wrong orders are being served and guests are waiting an hour for a table. Youre killing me, Sutherland says at one point. The food isnt getting great reviews from the judges, either. The compound butter on the oysters is too acidic, and Sutherlands own crawfish bisque is too thick. Their entrees (red snapper, duck and cabbage) fare better, but the judges dont see the connection between them and the appetizers. Meanwhile, dishes keep getting sent back to the kitchen because the orders were incorrect. This is one of the most ridiculous situations Ive ever been in in my career, Sutherland says. Bleep. Finally, its over, and time for judgment. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Team does not win the challenge. When asked what went wrong, Sutherland unleashes his displeasure. It was a mess, he says. The service staff was not ready and really had no training. Cut to Nguyen looking both guilty and annoyed. It was chaos, he continues. But Sutherland cant place all the blame on the front of the house. Guest judge Nilou Motamed, the editor of Food & Wine magazine, calls Sutherlands bisque one of the weakest dishes of the night at any of the restaurants. Tom Colicchio said it didnt taste like seafood. Host Padma Lakshmi called it swampy. And because this was a continuation of the high-stress Restaurant Wars, Sutherland didnt get any redeeming moments in the form of his signature off-the-cuff witticisms, or his cool shirts and hats. The series most dynamic contestant was reduced to a chefs coat and a scowl face for most of the episode. But hes safe, for now. Nguyen, along with chef Pablo Lamon, is sent home. As most of the other chefs pile hugs on her, Sutherland stands back and breathes a sigh of relief. Now that hes bought himself another week, maybe the fun old Justin Sutherland will return. Id toast to that. | http://www.startribune.com/can-st-paul-s-top-chef-contestant-survive-the-pressure-cooker-of-restaurant-wars/503899632/ |
Which countries have the highest State Department threat levels for traveling? | 18. Mali Population: 19.5 million Cases in 2018: 643 Cases in 2017: 21 Cases in 2016: 109 Mali faced epidemic levels in 2009-2010 when it had over 3,700 confirmed measles cases. Back then, nomadic groups presented a huge challenge for the vaccination of hundreds of thousands of children, according to humanitarian organization Mdecins Sans Frontires. ALSO READ: Teams With the Most Hall of Famers (Photo: dutourdumonde / Getty Images) As a new year of travel planning begins, the U.S. State Department has cautioned people not to travel to 10 countries around the world. The countries which include conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have No. 4-level travel advisories. Last year, the State Department simplified its travel warnings and alerts. Under the new system, introduced in January 2018, every country in the world is now ranked 1 to 4. No. 1 advises travelers to take normal precautions. No. 2 encourages increased caution. No. 3 urges travelers to reconsider a trip. And No. 4 recommends against travel. Specific threats are now labeled by letter. C is for crime, T for terrorism, U for civil unrest, H for health risks, N for natural disasters, E for time-limited events such as elections or sporting events, and O for other. Ten countries including Turkey and Venezuela have No. 3 travel advisory levels. Mexico, overall, has a No. 2 travel advisory level due to crime. But the State Department also has alerts for each state. The department advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the following states due to crime: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas. Reviews for countries ranked 1 or 2 will happen once a year. Those with 3 or 4 levels will be reassessed every six months. But the labels may change at other times depending on events. The State Department cannot forbid U.S. travelers from visiting any of these countries, except for North Korea. To see pictures of the riskiest countries in the world, take a look at the photo gallery above. The countries with the No. 4 warning and the codes of their specific threats are: Afghanistan, C, T, U, O Central African Republic, C, U Iraq, T, O Libya, C, T, U, O Mali, C, T North Korea, O Somalia, C, T, O South Sudan, C, O Syria, T, U, O Yemen, T, U, H, O Those with No. 3 travel warnings are: Chad, C, T, O Congo DRC, C, U, O Mauritania, C, T Nicaragua, C, U, H, O Niger, C, T Nigeria, C, T, U, O Pakistan, T, O Sudan, C, T, U, O Turkey, T, O Venezuela, C, U, H, O Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2019/01/04/these-most-dangerous-countries-travel/2478837002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2019/01/04/these-most-dangerous-countries-travel/2478837002/ |
Where are Oregon's urban supercommuters? | Commute times are increasing on average across the U.S., in part due to the rise of supercommutes. These are defined as commutes of 90 minutes or more each way, and while they're more common in states with large metropolitan areas like New York, they're also increasing here in Oregon. The share of supercommuters in Oregon has increased from an average of about 1.7 percent of all commuters to about 2.2 percent between 2007 and 2017. The percentage of supercommuters living in cities is lower than the state average, but still represents thousands of people -- and in turn, many thousands of hours. Below we show you the cities with higher-than-average percentages of supercommuters and the time all that commuting adds up to. | https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/90fec159785848/where-are-oregons-urban-superc.html |
How Worried Should I Be About the Flu? | Last year, an estimated 80,000 people in the U.S. died from flu-related complications, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making the 20172018 flu season the deadliest in at least four decades. With that in mind, itd be understandable if youre worried about this years flu: wondering whether it will be as severe as last seasons and what you can do to prevent the virus from affecting you. Luckily, the Cut chatted with flu experts to find out what you need to know. Well, before we go on, its important to recognize that its still pretty early in the flu season, so its tough to know what will happen. The CDC started monitoring the flu in October, and the season should last through the spring. Heres whats been happening: The CDCs latest FluView report indicates that flu activity is increasing nationally (which is typical for this time of year). More people are starting to go to the doctor with flu-like symptoms, and theres been a rise of laboratory-confirmed flu cases. Additionally, there have been 11 reported flu-related pediatric deaths so far in the 20182019 flu season. Beyond that, flu expert Stephen Ferrara, associate dean of clinical affairs at Columbia University School of Nursing, told the Cut that so far, the flu season has been following a more traditional pattern in contrast with last years, which was more unpredictable. So there are already some visible differences. However, although there are early indications that this years influenza may not be severe as last years, Ferrara stressed that the flu is always dangerous in any circumstances. Wait, please explain these differences. Basically, each year, different mutations of the influenza virus circulate; certain strains tend to be more dominant than others, depending on the season. The prominent strain last year was Influenza A (H3N2). The virus circulated earlier in the season than usual and was more virulent than had been seen in prior years, which contributed to it being a particularly difficult strain, according to the expert. On top of that, after the H3N2 virus reached its peak by early February, a strong surge of Influenza B cases popped up and spread through the spring. Thats a fairly regular occurrence after a H3N2 spread, but different than what you might see after other strains reach their peaks. So this year, Ferrara notes the flu seems to be following a more predictable pattern: Theres been the traditional spike in cases in the weeks of December, and a more common strain Influenza A (H1N1) has so far been dominant. There are still cases of H3N2, but fewer than last year. But keep in mind that both of these strains are still mutations of the same Influenza A virus; its just that were more likely to have built up some immunity to H1N1 (which emerged in 2009), whereas H3N2 is a newer mutation. Yes, H1N1 is also known as the swine flu, but please dont be overly alarmed. The strain is dangerous say it with me: All strains of the flu are dangerous but this outbreak should not be as bad as the 2009 pandemic, which one study found may have led to approximately 280,000 deaths worldwide. You see, during the pandemic, a special vaccine for the H1N1 strain was created and the strain also became a more regular fixture of flu seasons moving forward. So, our bodies (hopefully) now have some immunity to it. Ferrera told the Cut that now, a typical flu vaccine includes two variants of Influenza A (both H1N1 and H3N2) and at least one strain of Influenza B, so if you get the flu shot, you will hopefully be covered. Please forgive this emphasis, but yes, yes, yes, a million times yes! According the CDCs Nordlund, the flu vaccine is the safest bet to reduce the risk of the flu and its serious complications. I got my flu shot back in October, but Ferrara says its not too late for others to do the same. We continue advocating for people to get them, and especially now, if people were to get it, it will cover them in the typical peak season, he said. It does take your body about 10 to 14 days to develop immunity from the vaccine, but certainly there is still time. We havent seen the worst of this season yet. | https://news.yahoo.com/worried-flu-161623850.html |
Is CareTrust REIT, Inc. a Buy? | Many healthcare real estate investment trusts, or REITs, have been having a hard time of it lately, with overbuilding in private-pay senior housing assets and government payment and regulatory issues in the nursing home space. The second issue has been a notable headwind for CareTrust REIT, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRE), which is heavily tilted toward nursing homes. However, this relatively young healthcare property owner has been doing an excellent job of finding value in a tough market. A little history CareTrust REIT was spun off from healthcare provider The Ensign Group in mid-2014. CareTrust basically took all of the real estate, allowing Ensign to become a pure-play healthcare operator. The problem with this deal is that it left CareTrust with a single tenant operating all of its 94 facilities. From day one the goal was to expand via acquisition, with the express purpose of diversifying its operator exposure -- a typical approach for a spin off situation like this. The word dividend written over a line heading jaggedly higher More Image source: Getty Images CareTrust has made a lot of progress. In the second half of 2014 it bought five properties before really ramping up in 2015, 2016, and 2017, when it acquired 20, 35, and 36 assets, respectively. There was a bit of a slowdown in 2018, with only 12 deals. But at this point the REIT has around 190 properties across 25 states, effectively doubling its size in less than five years. The Ensign Group now accounts for around 40% of CareTrust's rent roll -- still a notable sum, but much less than the exposure at the IPO. The portfolio today is spread across three sectors: skilled nursing (73% of rents), multi-service campuses (13%), and senior housing (14%). Skilled nursing is clearly the biggest component of the business and a continued focus of its investments. This healthcare property niche has been one of the most troubled sectors of the industry, with payment issues resulting in larger healthcare REITs like Ventas and HCP, Inc. spinning off assets to avoid the problems facing nursing home operators. That's clearly not a good sign; however, the long-term medical need for nursing home care is pretty clear, and will benefit from the same aging population that is expected to lift demand for assisted living and well living facilities. Moreover, being an acquirer when others are looking to sell has resulted in pretty good investment opportunities for CareTrust, which estimates that it has been able to buy assets with an average 9% initial yield -- a robust figure in the REIT space today. A growth REIT As a relatively young REIT, CareTrust moved quickly to tap the capital markets via debt issuance and stock sales to fund its growth. The portfolio expansion has also allowed it to diversify and, equally important, increase its dividend every year since its IPO. In 2014 the quarterly dividend was $0.125 per share. The most recent quarterly dividend, paid throughout 2018, was $0.205 per share, up 10% over the quarterly dividends paid in 2017. | https://news.yahoo.com/caretrust-reit-inc-buy-155622161.html |
What's So Different About Cryptocurrency Exchanges? | This piece is part one of a four-part series looking at trading cryptocurrency. While both traditional exchanges and cryptocurrency exchanges facilitate trade across thousands of accounts, their setups are vastly different. A traditional exchange only carries out swaps between securities; it stays out of the broker/dealer role and doesnt touch custody. Transferring digital assets requires transacting on a blockchain and storing funds in a digital wallet. These unique factors, combined with largely undefined regulation, mean that crypto exchanges perform several services in one. One Function Versus Many Centralized crypto exchanges like Binance and OKEx employ several services needed to coordinate digital asset trading. Each crypto exchange uses an order-matching engine to match buyers and sellers, verify accounts and finally process transactions. In contrast, traditional exchanges basically perform one service, carrying out trades through an order-matching engine. They dont hold funds or perform the role of a broker/dealer. Shane Molidor, Global Head of Business Development at FBG ONE Trading, explains crypto exchanges role as more analogous to all-in-one platforms that interact with a custodian, the exchange, and a clearing agency, rather than just one place to exchange funds. While each of these functions were built separately for financial trading, Molidor says, crypto platforms consolidate all of this functionality. If you deposit bitcoin with Coinbase Pro, for example, youre commingling your assets with all their other customers whove deposited bitcoin. When you place a buy or sell order, Coinbase is serving as the broker/dealer introducing that order to the order matching engine. When the maker and taker interact with one another, the trades are settled immediately but back into the commingled accounts. This difference from traditional exchanges is what makes much of Wall Street and traditional investors uncomfortable using cryptocurrency exchanges. Cross-functionality also creates counterparty risk (the risk that one party will default on the agreement). Another key difference involves how crypto exchanges and traditional exchanges interact with data. Data Centers and Cloud Services While traditional financial exchanges rely on massive data centers in physical locations, most crypto exchanges rely on cloud servicesmore specifically, Amazon Web Services. Using AWS (or any centralized data center) puts crypto exchanges at risk of service outages like the time a human error brought AWS down in an entire region for five hours. While such outages are infrequent, crypto exchanges face some risk that a government will order their services cut off. Crypto introduces the complexity of transferring funds using various cryptocurrencies with multiple blockchains, gas fees and digital wallets, along with counterparty risk, custody issues and regulatory uncertainty. While exchanges, market makers and traders are profiting, the differences between crypto exchanges and their traditional counterparts are keeping many potential investors out for now. As more regulatory scrutiny comes to crypto, its possible the collection of services offered on crypto exchanges will start to separate in order to provide better protection against counterparty threats and regulatory violations. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/leslieankney/2019/01/04/whats-so-different-about-cryptocurrency-exchanges/ |
Is a 1-Year Space Station Mission in the Works? | A Russian report this week claimed that an American and a Russian will launch on a one-year trip to the International Space Station in 2015. But NASA says the endurance space mission is just an idea, for now. The short news story Wednesday (Aug. 22) by Russia's Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source within Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) to state that the marathon space station flight, which would be twice as long as typical six-month trips, will launch in three years and feature a two-person crew. But NASA officials say not so fast. Nothing, they say, has been decided yet. "We are exploring the idea of a one-year increment as part of preparations for exploration beyond low-Earth orbit," NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries of Johnson Space Center in Houston told SPACE.com. "But the discussion is very preliminary and no official decisions have been made." [Most Extreme Human Spaceflight Records] The Interfax report also stated that the American on the mission would be veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who stepped down as the agency's chief astronaut recently to rejoin its active spaceflying ranks. The Russian cosmonaut for the one-year crew has not been chosen, but a one-year mission would free up some Soyuz spacecraft seats for space tourists to visit the orbiting lab, Interfax reported. If a one-year stay aboard the International Space Station is actually in the works, it could help lay the foundation for even more ambitious human spaceflight efforts down the road. President Barack Obama has challenged NASA to develop new spacecraft and technology in order to send astronauts to visit a nearby asteroid by 2025, and ultimately on to Mars in the 2030s. A roundtrip journey to Mars, according to some mission concepts, would take about two years to complete. So a one-year stint on the International Space Station would allow scientists a chance to observe some of the longer-term effects of spaceflight beyond what crews have reported to date. In fact, a one-year trip into space has actually been done before. In the mid-1990s, Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, a medical doctor, spent nearly 438 consecutive days in space during a marathon mission aboard the Mir Space Station. The mission began in January 1994 and ended in March 1995. While Polyakov's endurance space trial helped researchers study the long-term physiological effects of human spaceflight, Russia has also had a keen interest in the psychological impact of spending such a long period away from Earth. Last year, six volunteers representing Russia, Europe and China completed a staggering 520-day Mars mission simulation that aimed to recreate the isolation and mental stress of long-term spaceflight. That simulation, called the Mars500 mission, began in June 2010 and ended in November 2011. The International Space Station is currently home to six crewmembers representing three different countries. The station's Expedition 32 crew includes three Russians, two Americans and a Japanese astronaut. NASA, Russia and the space agencies of Canada, Europe and Japan built the $100 billion space station over more than decade. Construction began in 1998, with another Russian lab due to arrive at the station next year. A total of 15 different countries have participated in the station's construction. | https://www.foxnews.com/science/is-a-1-year-space-station-mission-in-the-works |
Was El Chupacabra Spied in Texas? | New claims of the legendary Chupacabra are causing a stir for some North Texas residents. Their fears arose after a local animal control officer shot two canine-like animals in Hood County, Texas. The mythical creature has captured the public's imagination for years. Carcasses of the coyote-like chupacabra have been "identified" across the U.S. -- the latest is even on display in an upstate New York museum. The chupacabra comes from Hispanic folklore, where it is supposedly known for attacking goats and other livestock (chupacabra means "goat sucker" in Spanish). It was even featured on the popular television series "The X-Files." "All I know is, it wasn't normal," said animal control officer Frank Hacket, who shot one of the animals in a local rancher's barn. "It was ugly, real ugly. I'm not going to lie on that one." This is nothing new for Texas State University biologist Mike Forstner. In 2007, Forstner performed a DNA test on another alleged Chupacabra, only to find the beast was really a coyote. "We're either going to find out that they're a Mexican hairless dog species, and may have been someone's pet, or that they're coyotes," Forstner said. Read the full story at AOLNews. | https://www.foxnews.com/science/was-el-chupacabra-spied-in-texas |
Is Obama Administration Going Overboard With Federal Regulations? | This is a RUSH transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," October 13, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET! BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Impact" segment tonight: An article in The Washington Post today says the federal government is regulating just about everything, including Cheerios. The cereal was saying it lowers cholesterol, and the feds replied, hey, you can't say that; only drugs can lower cholesterol. That's just one example of more and more regulation under President Obama. Joining us now from Los Angeles, radio talk show star Leslie Marshall. OK, can't buy pistachio nuts. The FDA says, hey, no, better not eat pistachio nuts. That puts all those people out of business. Then you have trans fat ban in California. No trans fats. Then you have smoking, no smoking anywhere. In fact, Michael Jordan gets whacked for having a cigar on a golf course. Click here to watch the debate! LESLIE MARSHALL. RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, I don't smoke, and I've lost over 50 pounds from last year, Bill, so maybe the trans fats was a good thing here in California. I love Cheerios, my kids eat Cheerios, but if I have high cholesterol and I'm eating Cheerios because I think it's going to reduce my cholesterol, then I think the government and our president is right that General Mills, that owns and runs Cheerios, shouldn't be sending that message. I don't think it's wrong to say hey, this is healthy and this is why. But I think it's bad to give that kind of message because that should come not only from a drug, drug company but certainly from a medical O'REILLY: OK, I don't have any beef with Cheerios and the government saying, look, you know, unless you can prove this in clinical studies, you got to take it off. I want honesty, and I want people to know what's going on. But they're taxing soda now. You know, you get a coke, you're going to pay a sugar tax. The intent, Leslie, is good. The execution, though, is nanny state. It's almost a quasi fascism. It's basically Barack Obama and his merry guys saying, you know, we think Oreos are bad. We're going to tax them. We think Ding Dongs are bad, Cheetos are bad, we're taxing them. We don't want you to do this. Now you know, the logical extension is that if you don't exercise, we're going to have to pay a little bit more income tax. You know, but if you're in shape, like me, you get a tax break. MARSHALL: Look, although I'm a liberal Democrat, and we're known, Democrats, for having more and bigger government, this would be too much government to have the intrusion into your personal fitness center, etc. However O'REILLY: But you have it now. MARSHALL: ...as Americans, but we are fatter, Bill. And we are less healthy. And heart disease is killing us. And we need to worry about not only ourselves, but our kids and our kids' kids, etc. O'REILLY: OK, but then you have the MARSHALL: So if the government is O'REILLY: Here's my beef. You're right. And we don't want to be a chubby nation of people keeling over when they're 55 of heart attacks. Or do you suggest that, hey, this is really the right thing to do. It's more of a persuasion. Now, you have McDonald's, the fast food industry. They're posting now the calories. I'm for that. I'm for that. I think that's good. But I don't want them to slap 20-cent excise tax on a Big Mac. I think that's bad. You don't punish people for their choices. You advise them; you don't punish them. Go. MARSHALL: When you said that, you know, you kind of, you know, guide or gear an individual. Then maybe we can look at the tobacco tax as such. O'REILLY: But that's different though. MARSHALL: Somebody has to pay more, maybe they won't smoke. O'REILLY: Because MARSHALL: Is it different because it's lung cancer vs. girth O'REILLY: Right. MARSHALL: which affects your arteries and your heart. O'REILLY: It's the difference between crack and marijuana. I mean, some things are so dangerous, that you have to regulate them. But a Big Mac isn't. A Big Mac can be enjoyed once in a while. A Coke can be enjoyed once in a while. You shouldn't be punishing people if they want to have some comfort food. I don't want that kind of a government, Leslie. I don't think it's right. Go. MARSHALL: Well, I'll tell you, I agree with you that having a Big Mac my personal favorite is a lot of macaroni and cheese for my comfort food. O'REILLY: Yeah, once in a while. MARSHALL: But if I sit and eat macaroni and cheese, and I've done it, and if I sit and eat macaroni and cheese day after day, and if I have 10 Big Macs instead of one, that's where the problem is. We lack self-control, and if the government can help us get a little O'REILLY: I know. MARSHALL: I think it's a good thing. O'REILLY: But if the government's gong to tax everybody without self-control, we're all going to be bankrupt. Leslie, everybody. We appreciate it. Content and Programming Copyright 2009 FOX News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2009 CQ Transcriptions, LLC, which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon FOX News Network, LLC'S and CQ Transcriptions, LLC's copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation. | https://www.foxnews.com/story/is-obama-administration-going-overboard-with-federal-regulations |
Do 'Insider' Journalists Do Us All a Disservice? | I try to choose topics for this column that are not too inside. "Inside" meaning of interest only to news executives or news reporters or news junkies, as opposed to men and women of broader societal perspective, who I hope are the audience for these pieces. Today's column starts out inside. But it will soon go out, I promise, and when it does, will raise an important issue. Lou Dobbs, the former and present anchor of CNN's business program Moneyline, accepted a reported fee of $30,000 to make a speech last weekend to the Ford Motor Co.'s top dealers. Those who say "yes" cite the First Amendment. Those who say "no" cite a conflict of interest. If Lou Dobbs is beholden to the Ford Motor Co. for $30,000, there is the appearance (one hopes not the reality) of favoritism; i.e., that Dobbs might be tempted to report more optimistically on the company than he should, or perhaps ignore, or deliberately not seek, negative news about the automaker. What makes this less of a story than other cases of journalists taking big money from big business for small speeches is that Dobbs has said he is giving his fee to charity. He has also said, as has CNN, that he agreed to the Ford appearance before rejoining CNN, when he was, in other words, not officially a journalist. To turn down the engagement, thus, would have been to go back on his word. What makes this more of a story is the following: On the edition of Moneyline that aired the day before the speech, one of Dobbs' guests was Jacques Nasser, the CEO of Ford Motor Co. At the end of the interview, Dobbs said, "Well, Jacques, we wish you all the best." The inside story is now outside. For more than three years now, I have been reading mail from viewers of Fox News Watch. For more than six months, I have been reading mail from followers of this column. The most recurring theme of complaint in all these letters is not that the media tilt to the right or the left, but that they tilt toward existing power: That political reporters are too cozy with legislators, that sports reporters are too cozy with athletes, that business reporters are too cozy with chairmen of the board and that the result of these relationships is skewed journalism, reporting and commentary that takes the side of entrenched interests against those of the average man and woman. Whether Dobbs himself is too cozy with corporate heads is irrelevant; the point is that his interview with Jacques Nasser gives the impression that he is, and so is one more brick in a wall that decent, thoughtful, hard-working Americans are erecting between themselves and those who report to them. It is to me a remarkable irony. Journalists, especially those on television, live and die by their images. The star anchors pay more for haircuts than the rest of us pay for restaurant meals; they seek the advice of clothing consultants, makeup experts, sometimes voice and diction coaches. And then, once their images are perfectly sculpted, once they look like just the kind of folks you can trust to tell you the plain, unsullied truth on any topic of importance, they give air time to the CEO of the company that's about to fork over $30,000 to them for a few minutes of talk time at a convention. Maybe what they need is a behavior coach. | https://www.foxnews.com/story/do-insider-journalists-do-us-all-a-disservice |
Did I Miss Out On A Deal Because I Didn't Buy a Car Before The New Year? | As Jalopniks resident car buying expert and professional car shopper, I get emails. Lots of emails. Ive decided to pick a few questions and try to help out. This week we will discuss whether or not you missed out on deals if you didnt buy before the New Year, and how to hedge against high mileage depreciation. We are/were looking at either a new Toyota Highlander, RAV4, Honda Pilot or CRV, and as the money came last Friday, we tried to rally to get a deal before the end of the year. After test driving them all over the weekend, we had zeroed in on the CRV as fitting our lifestyle and were lining up an offer. That is until I stumbled across the rating question on Consumer Reports related to the engine issues plaguing the 2017 and 2018. We tried to double back and go with the 2018 RAV4, but the dealer was down to a few left and decided they were no longer willing to negotiate on them. So we did nothing. We are thinking about going after a Highlander now, but technically the Toyota incentives have expired. A common car buying myth is that if you want to score a deal you need to do so the last week of December right before the New Year because dealers are desperate to make sales for both the end of the month and the end of the year. Ive covered before why this isnt always the case, but I can tell you that you probably didnt miss out on the deal of a lifetime. Most of those savings come in the form of discounts and rebates from the manufacturer, so the dealers ability to discount the car out of their own profit margins doesnt really change from month to month or year to year. If they want to offer an aggressive price at or even below their invoice cost, they can do so. Furthermore, with import brands tend to have fewer rebates compared to some of the massive sales like the domestic brands such as GMs Employee Pricing Program. If you are looking at cars that are in very popular segments like compact and mid-size crossovers like a Honda CR-V or a Toyota Highlander, those are going to sell wellthe automakers dont really need to put a lot of cash on the hood. Therefore, youre primarily working with the best dealer discount anyway. One thing you want to know about Toyota is that rebates can vary from region to region, and the rebate follows the dealer, not the buyer. I had a customer in the New York City metro area buy a Tacoma near Philly because the dealer was willing to offer a steeper discount, but in addition to that Toyota was offering stronger rebates in that region that resulted in more savings. It pays to spread your net wide. Just wondering if you have some general advice on this. If keeping the car longer than the loan duration obviously that gets negated. Lets say for this case its trading in the car at around 3 years on a 5-year loan. Are there leases that would allow for that sort of mileage and would they even make financial sense. If you are going to buy a car and really rack up the miles there are a few ways to approach this. First, you can get something that has already depreciated, but given the mileage that means you would likely run out of warranty pretty fast. The other option is to buy something brand new, if that works for your budget, that will hold its value. Look into a high-value car like a Honda CR-V or Subaru Outback, as even with a lot of miles on them their resale numbers should still be solid. Sedans are great deals right now but theyre not holding their value. Now Is the Time to Buy a Sedan<em></em> Also if you have the ability to drop a sizable down payment and establish a lot of upfront equity to keep you ahead of the curve, that would be recommended. Hedging yourself with extra payments certainly isnt a bad idea, but you could also stash those extra payments away into a separate fund in case you need to use it to balance the scales on an underwater loan. High mileage leases are sometimes an option but they are usually very expensive. I would suggest you stick with a purchase over a lease. Email me at [email protected]! Read more | https://news.yahoo.com/did-miss-deal-because-didnt-175000959.html |
Who replaces Kaulana Apelu as Oregons middle linebacker, defensive leader in 2019? | EUGENE One of the bigger voids Oregon will have to fill in the offseason is in the heart of its defense. Kaulana Apelus career coming to an end leaves the Ducks needing to find a new middle linebacker and defensive leader in 2019. Apelu had 65 tackles with six for loss including two sacks and four pass breakups in 10 games this season, but production is not how best to measure his contributions. The intangibles and his leadership on and off the field is where Oregon will have the hardest time replacing Apelu. Some of that will be mitigated if Troy Dye, who also played an inside linebacker role, chooses to return for his senior season. If Dye returns, hes going to be the voice of the defense and make the calls, checks and signals that Apelu handled. But if Dye leaves for the NFL, Oregon will have three new starting linebackers and LaMar Winston Jr. can only do so much as the lone returning linebacker. Winston would likely have to take over the communication responsibilities in this scenario. Sampson Niu filled in when Apelu went down with an ankle injury and had 23 tackles with three for loss and one sack this season. Niu will clearly have a role in his junior season, but Isaac Slade-Matautia should also see more opportunities after recording 20 tackles in seven games before a shoulder injury. Keith Simms, who had 23 tackles this season, will also vie for more playing time and can play inside and outside. MJ Cunningham and Andrew Johnson Jr. will be coming off redshirt seasons and spring practice will be important for them to show where they fit on the depth chart. The incoming players who could be a factor are junior college transfer Dru Mathis and signee Mase Funa, the highest-ranked linebacker recruit in Oregon history. There is little doubt both will play next season, its a matter of how much and in what roles. Funa is clearly expected to be a centerpiece of Oregons defense in the years to come, its a matter of how he continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered last summer and how quickly he learns the defense to be a regular contributor. | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/01/who-replaces-kaulana-apelu-as-oregons-middle-linebacker-defensive-leader-in-2019.html |
Did Santander Cause 'Crisis At Christmas' Over Frozen Bank Accounts? | In the wake of Santander being fined 32.8 million (c.$41.35 million) this December by Britains Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), over mishandling thousands of dead customers money in their probate and inheritance processes and not treating their next of kin fairlyaccording to the regulator, news reached me that Santander U.K. had frozen a 92-year olds bank account for almost a year, making them almost homeless with no access to their savings. The British arm of the largest Spanish banking institution in the world, apologized over the failings after being hit with the fine for retaining millions of pounds back of deceased customer accounts after their deaths - in the probate and bereavement process. In one case they had held onto money for 21 years. This was among 40,428 customers who were directly affected as the bank had failed to transfer a total of 183 million (c.$231.8 million) of funds to beneficiaries when it should have done. The bank promptly transferred the majority of customer funds in the aftermath and according to Nathan Bostock, CEO of Santander U.K., have made significant improvements to our whole probate and bereavement process. But some may be wondering how it ever come to pass in the first and how the bank was able to return the money so swiftly after being fined. At the time, Bostock said: We have now transferred the majority of customer funds...ensuring we provide both a sensitive and efficient service to our bereaved customer representatives and those who are managing the estates of people who have passed away. Mark Steward, the FCAs executive director of enforcement and market oversight, stated in a press statement on December 19 from the regulator: These failings took too long to be identified and then far too long to be fixed. For reaching an early settlement Santander had its fine reduced by 30%, otherwise the bank could have faced fines of almost 47 million (c.$59 million). Santander breached Principle 3 and Principle 6 over more than a three-year period (from January 1 2013 and 11 July 11 2016), by failing according to The City watchdog to take reasonable care to organize and control its probate and bereavement process responsibly and effectively, with adequate risk management systems, and by failing to treat its customers and those who represented them on their death fairly. In particular, Santanders probate and bereavement process contained weaknesses that resulted in it failing to effectively follow-up on communications with deceased customer representatives, which increased the likelihood of probate and bereavement cases not being closed. But it is not the first time Spains biggest lender, which has long had one of the lowest core capital levels among its banking peers and saw its share price decline around 28% last year, has come a cropper and been fined. It counts Abbey National in Britain as a member of its group (a brand that ceased in 2010) and Bradford & Bingley, which was nationalized in late 2008 in what shareholder action group, BBAG, fighting for investor compensation have argued was a dubious act. Back in early 2015 Santanders UK arm was preparing for a compensation payout of 45 million (c.$56.7 million) following its fine for offering unsuitable investment advice to customers. And, a year before in March it was fined 12.5 million (c.$15.75 million) over poor investment advice. In 2013 it topped the bank complaints list from the then newly named Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). And, a little further back (February 2012) it was fined 1.5 million (c.$1.9 million) over the level of Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) cover for stock market-linked bonds and responding too slowly to customer queries (over some two years). The FSCS is the U.K.s compensation fund of last resort for customers of authorized financial services firms offering compensation of up to 85,000 (c.$107,000). Frozen Bank Accounts The above looked largely at Santanders probate and bereavement processes as well other historical weaknesses. Now we turn to the living and the case of one Daphne Fisher, a 92-year old living in sheltered housing in Bushey, Hertfordshire, who has around 7,000 (c.$8,812) in her current account with Santander. And, that is about all she has to her name. For around the last nine months (since April 2018) she had had her bank account frozen by Santander - without explanation - over what are described as anomalous transactions after reporting her cheque book stolen. In fact, the cheque book was not lost and had been mistakenly reported by Fisher. However, this did not stop the bank putting a block on her account over this entire period and over this Christmas and New Year (bar 5 minutes to allow a 200 (c.$250) withdrawal), which could have meant she was not able to eat or have gas to heat her dwelling. Potentially she could have been on the streets. In fact, lack of bank access lead to the bailiffs being called to her home because she could not pay the gas bill, which besides still not having been paid caused stress (although a cheque to the supplier had been written to British Gas in June 2018). A cheque written to her 71-year old son, who has compiled a potted history of the events and communications between the bank and himself that I have seen, reveal a number cheques including British Gas and her son - have been stopped (even though funds were available). One cheque for 1,400 (c.$1,762) was stamped PAYMENT STOPPED - AWAITING CONFIRMATION - PLEASE REPRESENT on August 31, 2018, despite sufficient funds being available. One letter delivered by hand by the son on behalf of Mrs Fisher to Santanders branch in Stanmore reads as follows: I am advised by the recipient of a cheque I issued to my son, which you have seen fit not to honor. I have funds in my account and you are holding my money and not honoring my instructions. You have made my ability to live untenable and my son is looking after me with everything - including paying my bills. I wish to close my account with immediate effect...and transfer the funds to the following payee. In a dossier half an inch thick detailing every significant event leading up to the present day around this distressing saga contains a series of emails, letters and telephone communications - over 30 in total - between the arthritic mother, her son and Santander from April last year. In the past month or so, a letter from a Finance Director at Santander has dismissed Fishers son and stated that they will not talk to him. Now I know freezing of customer bank accounts can happen what with issues around money laundering, KYC or proceeds of crime, but to deny a 92-year old access to the relatively small sum of money - all she has in the world - seems bizarre, puzzling and clearly distressing for the parties concerned. Santanders response has effectively been to say they are not at liberty to reveal why the account has been frozen - even after three visits by the mother with her son, a qualified chartered accountant in the West End with some 40 years experience, who told me when we met: I have never experienced anything like this. And, I, if anyone - a chartered accountant - should have been able to resolve matters given my accountancy background...but no. This is an accountant with experience who has dealt and corresponded with the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by email almost on a daily basis over the years, which he pointed out: HMRC have no problems with that. Exasperated at the situation, he added: They are totally dismissive. And, in the end they [Santander] wouldnt talk to me and nor would they write to me. They had previously told me they dont accept letters and yet theyve written to me. Theyve informed me I dont have any authority over my mothers account. However, theyve relied on things Ive said regarding my mothers capacity. Frankly, what right do they have to make that decision? Santanders branch in Stanmore, north London, told Fishers son we dont correspond by email. Even bringing the 92-year old to the branch to resolve matters when the account was under review yielded no more progress, before being told by the bank: We have made our decision and that is final. Added to that the account holders son was informed we are not client facing. Its like the computer says NO and matters are in a black hole. Furthermore, letters the bank said that they had sent were not received and a promised visit by bank officials from Santander to Fishers home never materialized. Having already got power of attorney for health and care, he has now applied for power of financial attorney (late November 2018), which is the process of being arranged. He added: On the one hand they [Santander] say they cannot listen to me because I am not authorized. Yet on the other hand they have taken what I said as being the reason why they closed my mothers account. How does that work? The only way to get access to the funds would, it seems, be when Mrs Fisher dies. And, this is where matters stand today. However, he and his mother are not alone. A few years ago in 2015 the Daily Telegraph reported that the Financial Ombudsman Service, the U.K.s official expert set up by Parliament to sort out problems with financial services, had received around 20 to 30 complaints per month from individuals who have been locked out of their accounts without any explanation. The newspaper stated: On this basis, given the small proportion of complainants who raise cases with the FOS in other areas, the number of people booted out by their bank is likely to be in the hundreds every month. Martyn James, an FOS spokesman, commenting at around this time said: We see a steady stream of calls and concerns over banks closing consumers accounts. The most frustrating thing for people in this situation is the bank does not have to give a reason for closing the account - and banks rarely do, or sometimes cant. Bank Processes & Regulation Part of the problem, is that from the banks perspective, they have become increasingly wary in recent years of the fines they could face if they fail to detect obvious fraud and money laundering - and particular in the U.S. It is process labelled de-risking. At the same time one wonders why Santander could not detect issues around their probate and bereavement far sooner, and only stood up once being founding wanted by the FCA. For the banks, detection is based on certain computer-detected patterns of behavior on an account and the anomalies that can be thrown up as a result. Moreover, as an unintended consequence of onerous regulation is that it is often not possible for a bank to explain say why it has taken such action like closing an account - due to so-called tipping off rules - that are designed to prevent criminals knowing that the authorities are on to them. David Woolcock, Director, Business Consulting at Eurobase Banking Solutions, which specializes in treasury management and dealer/trading support solutions, commenting on this latest situation [re. Fisher] said: It is a story of false positives by a computer. Until the fines the FOS and others can levy for incorrect closing of accounts are an equal deterrent to bad behaviour to the fines levied for money laundering, controls failings it will continue. He added: One can see parallels in wholesale Financial Markets. But it is galling to see the very people the FCA and other national competent authorities are meant to be protecting, suffer from the overzealous application of regulations enforced by large fines. It is time we moved on from the events of 2008-2015 and encouraged banks to use common sense rather than being mere slaves to the computers and having to enact what the machine flags up. It is surely a sad world when it is the retail customer that ends up being unable to get proper redress, while a larger institutional one does because they can initiate legal action and sue. As Woolcock put it: To my mind this should be investigated just as thoroughly as a financial market misdemeanor such as LIBOR rigging and fines of similar significance levied on those who inappropriately freeze accounts just based on a false positive. This whole issue around freezing bank accounts - and in particular the elderly and vulnerable - may just be the tip of the iceberg given the cases that actually surface. The bereavements and probate issues with Santander has now passed, but the case of Daphne Fisher could just be a precursor to an immeasurable larger number of people who are simply brow beaten by their banks because they do not have the money to fight. If you have also experienced a similar experience having your bank account(s) frozen do get in touch. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2019/01/04/did-santander-cause-crisis-at-christmas-over-frozen-bank-accounts/ |
Will The Jewelry Trends Change From 2018's Golden Globes? | In just a few days, red carpet season kicks off again with the 76th Annual Golden Globes. What the A-listers are wearing at the Globes often provides a good indication of what we will see during the SAG's (Screen Actor's Guild) Awards and the Academy Awards to follow. Last year the highlights of the red carpet season from the Globes throughout The Cannes Film Festival proved to reveal earrings as the trend that took over the star-studded events. But there were also statement necklaces and armfuls of bracelets that took the spotlight. Diamonds dazzled, particularly when it came to antique and vintage pieces provided by red carpet favorites such as Fred Leighton and Neil Lane and the archives of Tiffany & Co., Bulgari and Cartier. Lorraine Schwartz provided the color and the bold singular statement as did some of the independent designers that we always love to see gain some traction at these luminary events. Tune in to to watch the show and to view our coverage of the trend-setting jewels. In the meantime, here are some of the highlights from last year's Golden Globes: Variety in styles and lengths of diamond earrings: Reese Witherspoon in vintage-inspired Bulgari diamond earrings. Jessica Chastain in delicate yet bold Piaget diamond wreath earrings Jessica Biel in big and beautiful Bulgari Official diamond earrings Pops of color in emeralds against the backdrop of black gowns: The large emerald pendant earrings and emerald ring on Zoe Kravitz by Lorraine Schwartz The emerald chandeliers Catherine Zeta-Jones by Lorraine Schwartz The emerald and diamond outstanding necklace on Issa Rae all by Lorraine Schwartz Bold and statement making yet feminine necklaces: Viola Davis in Harry Winston platinum and diamond necklace Allison Williams in an 18K gold in a Forevermark five-row diamond choker | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bethbernstein/2019/01/04/will-the-trends-change-from-2018s-golden-globes/ |
Why Arent Democratic Governors Pardoning More Prisoners? | All three of those governors hail from the Republican Party, which traditionally favored tough-on-crime policies. But even Democratic governors can be stingy. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made headlines last month when he pardoned 22 immigrants who faced deportation or couldnt apply for citizenship because of previous state convictions. The pardons gave Cuomo a chance to cast himself as a leading figure in the Democratic resistance to President Trump. But with almost 200,000 New Yorkers in prison, probation, or parole, issuing fewer than two dozen pardons is hardly a courageous act. Pardoning incarcerated people or commuting their sentences largely fell out of vogue during the tough-on-crime era at both the state and federal level. Harry Truman issued more than 1,900 pardons during his tenure, while Dwight D. Eisenhower handed out more than 1,100 throughout his eight years in office. That number fell even as prison populations exploded in the 1980s and 1990s: George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush collectively issued fewer than 700 pardons during their quarter-century in power. Though comparable figures for the nations governors arent readily available, theyve reportedly shown a similar aversion to clemency since the 1960s. Jerry Brown, Californias outgoing governor, carved out a model of sorts. The states longtime leader spent his fourth and final term in office setting a national benchmark for clemency: The Times of San Diego reported that Brown has pardoned at least 1,332 inmates since 2011, quadrupling the number issued by the preceding four governors combined. The burst of activity is particularly stark compared to his two immediate predecessors, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis, who respectively issued fifteen and zero pardons. Those whove received pardons from Brown cut a broad swath, ranging from a couple that lost their home in the devastating Camp Fire last month to five Cambodian-born immigrants who feared deportation by the Trump administration. In a slate of Christmas Eve pardons, the governor also ordered new DNA tests for Kevin Cooper, a death-row inmate who says that local police framed him for a quadruple homicide in the 1980s. For Brown, theres a self-redemptive element at play. He previously served as Californias governor from 1975 to 1983, right at the cusp of the nations turn towards harsher sentencing laws and mass incarceration. Solid-blue states arent the only ones where governors have made bold use of their clemency powers. Terry McAuliffe, a moderate Democrat who led Virginia from 2014 to 2018, initially tried to restore voting rights to almost 200,000 former felons with a single executive order in 2016. After the state supreme court struck down his sweeping order later that year, McAuliffe began to issue them on a person-by-person basis, restoring the franchise to more than 173,000 citizens by the time he left office. Ralph Northam, his successor, has continued the clemency program on a rolling basis as prisoners return to society. | https://newrepublic.com/article/152847/arent-democratic-governors-pardoning-prisoners |
Who Will Be the Big TV Winners at the 2019 Golden Globes? | Below, we've broken down the TV categories. We're telling you who we think should win and who we think will take home the Golden Globe at the end of the night. The 2019 ceremony airs Sunday, Jan. 6 with Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg and Killing Eve's Sandra Oh serving as hosts after the two stole the show at the 2018 Emmys while presenting an award. They'll oversee a show where anything canand doeshappen. Historically, the Golden Globes are nutty in who they nominate and ultimately hand out awards to. Nutty in a good way. They're unpredictable, which makes our job predicting who will be the night's big winners harderand fun. One of Hollywood's biggest parties is almost here. And at this party, awards are handed out. We're talking the Golden Globes. FX Best Television SeriesDrama This category could go in any number of directions. Last year's winner The Handmaid's Tale isn't in the running. International hit Bodyguard made a splashy debut, The Americans ended its run with much fanfare and Homecoming, Pose and Killing Eve all debuted with critical acclaim. Who should win: Pose The FX drama had not one bad single episode. The Golden Globes love honoring diversity and you don't get much more diverse than this 1980s-set series about LGBTQ characters. Who will win: Killing Eve And we won't be mad about this either. The BBC America drama was really, really, really good. Best ActressDrama Elisabeth Moss is back to defend the award she won last year for The Handmaid's Tale against Caitriona Balfe for Outlander, Sandra Oh for Killing Eve, Homecoming's Julia Roberts and The Americans star Keri Russell. Who should win: Sandra Oh, Killing Eve The Golden Globes host was absolutely stellar in Killing Eve. Who will win: Julia Roberts, Homecoming Roberts is great in Homecoming, not that anybody doubted she would be. Best ActorDrama Ozark's Jason Bateman is the only returning nominee from last year, 2018 winner This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown was snubbed, which means the race is wide open. Homecoming's Stephan James is up for the award, as is Bodyguard star Richard Madden, Pose's Billy Porter and The Americans star Matthew Rhys. Who should win: Billy Porter, Pose As Pray Tell on the FX series, Porter is doing heartbreakingand hilariouswork. Who will win: Matthew Rhys, The Americans He took home the Emmy for the final season and will likely get another award for the shelf. Article continues below NBC Best Television SeriesMusical or Comedy The single nominee from broadcast here is The Good Place, and that should tell you something about its quality. It remains one of the smartest and funniest shows on TV. Last year's winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is (rightfully) in the running again, and the Golden Globes loves star power, Kidding, The Kominsky Method and Barry round out the category Who should win: The Good Place NBC's afterlife comedy is just so forkin' delightful! Who will win: The Kominsky Method Never underestimate the power of the Golden Globes' love of veteran actors, in this case Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. NBC Best ActressMusical or Comedy Last year's winner Rachel Brosnahan is back for her work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, defending her title against The Good Place's Kristen Bell, Candice Bergen for her return to Murphy Brown, Will & Grace star Debra Messing and GLOW's Alison Brie. Who should and who will win: Kristen Bell, The Good Place For close to the last 10 years, this category has always changed it up and honored deserving performers like Brosnahan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rachel Bloom and Gina Rodriguez. Bell is a first-time nominee and does excellent work in The Good Place. This should (and hopefully will) be her award. Mike Yarish/Netflix Best ActorMusical or Comedy Bill Hader won an Emmy for his work in Barry and is in this category with Kidding's Jim Carrey, Donald Glover for Atlanta, Michael Douglas for The Kominsky Method and Sacha Baron Cohen for Who Is America. Who should win: Jim Carrey, Kidding He's fantastic in the showtime series. Who will win: Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method Again, HFPA loves veteran actors doing good work. Article continues below FX Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television This category is hard to predict. Nominees are all over the place, including The Alienist, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Escape at Dannemora, Sharp Objects and A Very English Scandal. Who should and who will win: The Assassination of Gianni Versace FX's miniseries has everything The Hollywood Foreign Press Association loves: big stars, a glittering locale and actors playing against type. HBO Best Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television This category is a who's who of famous faces. There's Patricia Arquette for Escape at Dannemora, Connie Britton for Dirty John, Laura Dern for The Tale, Regina King for Seven Seconds and Amy Adams for Sharp Objects. Who should win: Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora Have you seen what she did week to week?! Who will win: Amy Adams, Sharp Objects It's this year's Big Little Liesbut it didn't create nearly as much buzz. FX Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television It's almost new vs. old guard here with A Very English Scandal's Hugh Grant, Patrick Melrose star Benedict Cumberbatch, Antonio Banderas for Genius: Picasso, The Alienist star Daniel Bruhl and Darren Criss for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Who should win: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story He got the Emmy and for a good reason. Who will win: Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal Golden Globes love a good streaming series, especially one with an international flair. Article continues below HBO Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television This is a tough category because it's performers from comedies, dramas, TV movies, miniseriesit's everyone. You can't compare Alex Borstein's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel performance with that of Yvonne Strahovski in The Handmaid's Tale. But somehow, the Golden Globes will. Other nominees include Patricia Clarkson for Sharp Objects, Westworld star Thandie Newton and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story's Penlope Cruz. Who should win: Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid's Tale This was Serena Joy's year on Hulu's dystopian drama. Strahovski did amazing work infusing the character with humanity. Who will win: Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects Clarkson owned that screen in HBO's miniseries. | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1001636/who-will-be-the-big-tv-winners-at-the-2019-golden-globes?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
Why is the Trump administration slow in releasing storm protection funds? | The Trump administration has delayed the release of $16 billion in storm protection funds, prompting complaints from officials in Puerto Rico and Texas, who say the money is vitally needed to protect coastal communities before the next hurricane season. Congress last February authorized the $16 billion in disaster mitigation funds, to be used for projects to better safeguard communities damaged by floods and hurricanes in 2017. Puerto Rico was slated to receive $8.3 billion of the money, followed by Texas ($4 billion), Louisiana ($1.2 billion), the U.S. Virgin Islands ($774 million) and Florida ($550 million). But according to state officials, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has yet to issue regulations on how states and U.S. territories can apply for the money. While the ongoing government shutdown is adding to the delays, the problems preceded the current stalemate, according to the office of Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who this week sent the Trump administration a letter complaining about the situation. I am writing to ask you to please approve these rules for publication as soon as possible so we can get started on construction of vital infrastructure projects to protect Texans from the type of damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, said Bush, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in a letter Wednesday to Trumps budget director and acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. We cannot afford to wait any longer, added Bush, a Republican elected official. Neither HUD nor staff at the Office of Management and Budget responded to inquiries about Bushs letter, which was previously reported by Bloomberg. HUD says on its website that the entire department is closed, due to the lapse in Congressional Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019. This is not the first time that HUD Secretary Ben Carson has heard complaints about delays in disbursing hurricane relief funds. In August, Puerto Ricos non-voting congressional representative, Jenniffer Gonzlez Coln, joined 15 senators and representatives from Florida, Louisiana and other states in pressing Carson to speed up release of money for disaster recovery and mitigation. Our communities remain vulnerable to the hurricane season without having been able to use the funds, the congressional members said in a letter to Carson. While President Donald Trump is on good terms with Republican leaders in Texas and Florida, hes lashed out at Puerto Rican leaders whove been critical of the federal response to Hurricane Maria, which killed 2,975 people there, an estimate Trump disputed. According to the Texas land office, the holdup stems from HUDs inability to agree on what kind of projects qualify as mitigation under the federal appropriation. In his letter, Bush said his office has provided information to HUD on what type of mitigation projects would best serve those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. This collaboration was done in part to help expedite publication of the rules government these funds in the Federal Register. Flood control experts have long advocated more investment in mitigation such as elevating or relocating vulnerable homes or improving drainage. Part of the aim is to reduce the kind of multi-billion-dollar damages that threaten the solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2017 was the most expensive year on record for disaster damages, with approximately $306 billion in losses. Even before Hurricane Florence hit last September, the National Flood Insurance Program faced a debt of $20.5 billion. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article223926040.html |
Can mediation solve the LeBreton Flats legal dispute? | It is not exactly magic, but it could be a formula that works. With just two weeks until the Jan. 19 deadline set by the National Capital Commission to disintegrate the deal, and a very public legal dispute among partners Eugene Melnyk, John Ruddy and Graham Bird, news came Friday that the parties had agreed to early mediation. The project is too important to fail and is worth salvaging, said Bird in a statement. The last-ditch mediation effort, aimed at preventing the NCC from terminating its relationship with RendezVous LeBreton as it has said it would do if the partners dont reach an agreement, is to be led by Ontarios former chief justice Warren K. Winkler, considered one of the countrys leading mediators. The fact that the parties have volunteered to enter mediation is itself a good sign, says Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who practises civil litigation as well as criminal law. The agreement to enter mediation and Birds statements about the proposed project, including an arena for the Ottawa Senators, being too important to fail are positive signs that the parties want to find a solution, he said. Related The mediation process offers something that might lower the heat on the dispute among Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, Trinity Development founder John Ruddy and Bird of GBA Development and Project Management: privacy. The process takes place behind closed doors and what happens there remains private, said Greenspon. Typically, parties sign a confidentiality agreement as soon as the mediation begins, before lawyers for each party make their opening statements summarizing their positions to the other side. During the process, the mediator goes back and forth between parties trying to narrow the gaps between their positions. The mediator does not make a ruling, but acts as a negotiator and guide to bring the sides together. Greenspon said the fact that mediation is held behind closed doors will likely improve the chances of an agreement being reached, because there will be no need for public posturing or concern about public reaction. That is especially important in a case that is in such a harsh spotlight because of its location, the involvement of the Senators owner and the history of LeBreton Flats. By taking it out of the public spotlight, it turns the heat down, especially in the hands of an experienced mediator like Winkler, said Greenspon. There is no need for parties to fear what the public might think about their private position, he said. Mediation is increasingly used to settle civil litigation, said lawyer and mediator Peter Bishop. In Ottawa, fewer than five per cent of civil cases go to trial since mediation became mandatory in the late 1990s. The RendezVous LeBreton mediation is not mandated, but voluntary. Motivation by the participatns is the key to success, said Bishop. Greenspon said the fact that the parties have agreed and the mediation is voluntary, is a very good sign. It is a sign they recognize this is an issue that cant wait. [email protected] ALSO IN THE NEWS: Deachman: On being 19, our year of living dangerously Capital jobless rate climbs to 4.9 per cent in December City will get keys to Ottawas LRT system by end of March, builders say | https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/can-mediation-solve-the-lebreton-flats-legal-dispute |
When Are All of the Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2019? | 2019 will have plenty in store for astronomy fans across the world, with a total solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse and more. The most exciting such event for U.S.-based stargazers may be the so-called Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse on Jan. 21, says Christian Veillet, an astronomer at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory in Arizona. The January lunar eclipse will be special, at least for the U.S. Its really seen by the whole of America and South America and nicely centered, so everyone will be able to see all the totality phase of it, so its a nice show, he says. Viellet says 2019 wont have any solar or lunar events that are especially rare, like 2017s total solar eclipse, which was the first of its kind to be visible exclusively from the United States since the countrys founding. Still, theres plenty to see in the night sky over the next 12 months. Of course, like all celestial happenings, your ability to view these events can depend on your location on Earth as well as the local weather. The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now From the Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse in January to the total solar eclipse in July, here are five solar and lunar phenomena to watch in 2019: January 6: Partial Solar Eclipse On Jan. 6, stargazers in parts of East Asia and the Pacific will be able to witness a partial solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the sun is obscured by the moon. If the sun, moon and Earth are lined up, you get a total solar eclipse. But if that alignment is off, it can result in a partial solar eclipse, and only part of the sun will appear to be blocked by the moon. Januarys partial solar eclipse will the last until April 2022, when another will be visible in parts of South America and Antarctica. January 21: Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse On Jan. 21, people in North America, South America, Greenland, Iceland and more will be able to view a lunar eclipse that some are calling the Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse. The astronomical event, a simultaneous total lunar eclipse and a supermoon, will take place on the night of Jan. 20 into the morning of Jan. 21. During the event, the moon will fall completely into Earths shadow, and appear red-colored and slightly larger than usual for about an hour. The Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2021. July 2: Total Solar Eclipse On July 2, people in parts of Chile and Argentina will be able to witness a total solar eclipse just before sunset. Those in some other places, including Ecuador; Brazil; Uruguay and Paraguay, will only be able to witness a partial solar eclipse, according to Space.com. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the entire view of the sun, leaving just the corona visible to those viewing from Earth. (While the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon in diameter, the moon happens to be 400 times closer to Earth, giving it the relative size needed to block out the sun.) Julys total solar eclipse will be relatively long, lasting almost two minutes in some places. According to NASA, the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century occurred in July 2009, lasting six minutes and 39 seconds; it was visible through most of Southeast Asia. Julys total solar eclipse is the last such event until December 2020, when another total solar eclipse will be visible over similar parts of South America. July 16: Partial Lunar Eclipse On July 16, people in much of Europe and Asia, as well as parts of south and east North America, South America and Antartica, will be able to view a partial lunar eclipse. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, but the bodies are not perfectly aligned. During a partial lunar eclipse, the moon falls partially into Earths shadow (also called the umbra), leaving only a portion of it visible to those on Earth. Julys partial lunar eclipse will be the last until November 2021. December 26: Annular Solar Eclipse The day after Christmas 2019, people in eastern Europe, much of Asia, and northern and western Africa will be able to witness a ring of fire caused by an annular solar eclipse. During an annular solar eclipse, the moon is further away from the Earth. That means it appears to be smaller in the sky and does not completely cover the sun, leaving just the ring of fire, according to NASA. The next annular eclipse will be in June 2020. Write to Gina Martinez at [email protected]. | http://time.com/5493536/solar-lunar-eclipse-2019/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29 |
Did al Qaeda fugitives get inside help? | Investigators are looking into the possibility that intelligence officers helped 23 al Qaeda prisoners including a militant convicted in the 2000 USS Cole bombing escape from an underground prison located under a heavily guarded security headquarters, officials said Monday. The prisoners escaped last week, apparently by digging a tunnel, some 180 yards long, that emerged in the women's section of a mosque near the headquarters, the security officials said. It was not the first major prison escape for al Qaeda militants. At least four members of the group broke out of a prison at Bagram, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan in July. Among them was Omar al-Farouq, a top leader of al Qaeda in Southeast Asia. The capture, trial and imprisonment of those responsible for the attack on the USS Cole was a high point in Yemen's declared alliance with the United States in the war on terror, CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports. The escape of those behind the attack is a deep embarrassment and puts Yemen's determination into question. An investigation headed by the Yemeni interior minister has begun questioning intelligence officers on how Friday's escape in San'a happened, government and security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge details on the probe. "It couldn't have happened without the coordination of high ranking officers in the intelligence," said one official. He pointed to possible infiltration of the intelligence agency by militants, saying hundreds of Yemenis who fought in Afghanistan in the 1980s against Russian occupation were given jobs with the security forces when they returned home. "It is no surprise that many of these former fighters are sympathetic to al Qaeda," he said. Yemen's interior ministry confirmed in a statement that the convicts escaped from the headquarters for the political security forces, a security branch affiliated with the intelligence. But it gave no further details on the escape or the search for the militants. The prison was underground in the headquarters, one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the capital. The compound is surrounded by a high wall and armed guards and all roads leading to it are blocked to vehicles. The 23 militants, all convicted members of Al Qaeda, were all kept in the same cell, the officials said. The international police agency Interpol said Sunday it was informed by Yemen that Jamal al-Badawi a man convicted of plotting, preparing and helping carry out the Cole bombing was among the fugitives. Al-Badawi was among those sentenced to death in September 2004 for plotting the attack, in which two 17 sailors were killed when suicide bombers blew up an explosives-laden boat next to the destroyer as it refueled in the Yemeni port of Aden on Oct. 12, 2000. His sentence was later reduced to 15 years in prison. For at least 10 of the escaped convicts, this is the second time they escaped prison. In 2003, they escaped briefly from a prison in the city of Aden before they were recaptured and convicted. The first time al-Badawi escaped, he headed for Yemen's remote tribal lands, and officials assume that is where he is headed this time, CBS News correspondent David Martin reports. The FBI has offered to help in the manhunt, but so far the Yemenis have not taken up the offer, Martin reports. Checkpoints throughout the city have been set up and the interior ministry has issued photographs of the convicts to security forces throughout the country to aid in their capture. Since Friday, at least a dozen members of Islamic groups in Yemen known to be affiliated with the convicts, have been detained for interrogation. Some relatives of the convicts have also been summoned for questioning. Authorities have also approached tribal leaders to watch for the fugitives, particularly in Maarib, a lawless region northeast of the capital. In Afghanistan, a search for the four al Qaeda members who escaped in July is still continuing, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Mike Cody said. Military officials declined to say how they broke out of the high-security facility at Bagram. The four boasted about their breakout on a video believed filmed in Afghanistan and broadcast in October on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya. They claimed they picked a lock and timed the escape for a Sunday when many of the Americans on the base were off duty. | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-qaeda-fugitives-get-inside-help/ |
Will the Government Ever Reopen? | Trumps message, meanwhile, was dizzyingly dissonant. He tried to present a rosier picture of the situation even as he simultaneously threatened to keep the government shuttered indefinitely and suggested that he could declare a national emergency to have the wall built without congressional approval. At one point, he said he had a great meeting with Pelosi, Schumer, and other congressional leaders. He predicted the shutdown would be over sooner than people think. But in the next breath, he said he was girding for a lengthy fight. If we have to stay out for a very long period of time, were going to do that, Trump declared. Regarding an emergency declaration, he said, We can call a national emergency and build it very quickly, and its another way of doing it. The president also shrugged off concerns about the welfare of the hundreds of thousands of federal employees who will go without paychecks for the duration of the shutdown. Despite polls showing that a plurality of the public blames him for the closures, Trump claimed that most federal workers supported his demand for wall funding. I believe a lot of them want to see border security and theyre willing to give it up, the president claimed. He ignored questions asking him for evidence or details backing up his assertion. At another point, he said a former president had told him he regretted not building a wall during his time in office. Trump did not say which one. The only living Republican ex-president is George W. Bush, who signed legislation authorizing fencing at the southern border but who has never publicly voiced support for Trumps proposed wall. Fridays White House meeting came a day after Democrats reclaimed the House majority and installed Pelosi as speaker for the second time. Within hours of taking over, they passed two bills aimed at reopening the government, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said neither will get a vote in the Senate, because they lack Trumps support. Trumps challenge, however, may be wavering Republican support. Seven GOP lawmakers in the House sided with Democrats on one of the bills to reopen the government, and two Republican senators, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine, have called for votes on legislation even if it lacks funding for a wall. McConnell was noticeably absent from Trumps Rose Garden press conference despite attending the meeting that preceded it. The majority leader has signaled that hell follow Trumps lead on the negotiations rather than pit his members against the president. So far, a president who likes setting records is leading his party fast toward another one, however dubious an achievement it might be. We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to [email protected]. | https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/trump-shutdown-could-last-months-or-even-years/579535/?utm_source=feed |
Will the government shutdown halt research at Northeast Ohio universities? | CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Research at universities wont likely stop during the government shutdown, but that doesnt mean that faculty and administration wont feel the effects. A partial government shutdown began Dec. 22, 2018, and President Donald Trump said on Friday that it could go on for months, even years, if Democrats dont approve funding for a border wall Trump promised during his campaign in 2016. The shutdown left thousands of federal workers at home or unpaid. Graduate students who conduct research projects funded with federal money wont be told to stay out of the lab, though. Universities typically pay student salaries and then apply for reimbursements from the federal government. Chemicals, machines and other necessities for research are also purchased through this method. When the government shuts down, it preventing universities from getting the money back -- potentially for months. Researchers have to be careful about how they spend. In a sense the university is kind of acting like a bank, Suzanne Rivera, vice president for research at the Case Western Reserve University Office of Research and Technology Management, said. The University of Akron handles the shutdown the same way, George Chase, director of research for science, engineering, math and technology, said, so researchers wont feel the effects. It depends on the agencies on how often reimbursement occurs. Some only pay a few times a year, others reimburse monthly. An area where faculty could see the delay is in applying for funding. Part of a professors job is applying for funding to pay for research. When the government agency that takes those applications isnt operational, there can be no new submissions and those already submitted will be delayed for approval. CWRU faculty who spent their Winter Break finishing up extremely detailed grant proposals now have to wait to submit them, pushing back the timelines of projects, Rivera said. Not all government agencies are closed, including the National Institute of Health, one of the major sources of funding for CWRU. Those offices received approval for funding before the shutdown. But other agencies, including the National Science Foundation, NASA and the National Endowment for the Humanities, are closed. Even if the shutdown were to end next week, there would be months-worth of effects, Rivera said. Read more about how the shutdown is affecting workers or how it might affect your taxes. | https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/01/will-the-government-shutdown-halt-research-at-northeast-ohio-universities.html |
Will new reality show 'Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club' be a flop? | Lindsay Lohan's new show "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club" is finally here, and the reviews are mixed. Lohan, formally known as "LiLo" is now the proud owner of a beach club in Mykonos, Greece. The new show follows the club owner, and the staff as drama and hookups inevitably occur. Many are comparing Lohan to Lisa Vanderpump due to the venture. Some also say the show is a "Vanderpump Rules" knockoff and Lohan is a joke. Preview the series here. Critics are not speaking highly of Lohan's "comeback." Lindsay Lohan thinks she's a brand & these other people have "worked their way up from the bottom" to become...hosts & hostesses. [?] Bro, please. I wish her success, but I'm just a little skeptical. #LindsayLohansBeachClub -- Nola Salazar Barnes (@salazar_barnes) January 1, 2019 But Lohan's fans are ready to go all in and support the series. If I could go to any club, it would def be - hands down #LindsayLohansBeachClub @lindsaylohan yassss love a good come back and so rooting for you. [?][?][?][?][?][?]. Watch out Lisa vanderpump. Lindsay is coming for your crown! -- hopesaprincess (@hopesaprincess) December 16, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/will_new_reality_show_lindsay.html |
Is Manny Machado still an option for Yankees after Troy Tulowitzki signing? | Troy Tulowitzki is owed $20 million for next year, $14 million for 2020 and a $4 million buyout of the 2021 team option. (Photo: Butch Dill, USA TODAY Sports) NEW YORK As the waiting game for Manny Machado continues, the Yankees have gone all-in for Troy Tulowitzki. At least for now. Were going into this with a commitment level to try Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Friday, as the Yankees officially announced signing the veteran to a one-year deal. Cashman wouldnt say if the Tulowitzki agreement takes the Yankees out of play for a big-ticket item, and Machado and fellow 26-year-old free agent Bryce Harper are the most prominent names on the free agent market. Cashman would not characterize his negotiations for Machado, but acknowledged having spoken with agent Dan Lozano since their initial in-person meeting. Cashman provided a heads up to Lozano of the Tulowitzki agreement before its announcement. Cashman further offered that he currently sees a 2019 Yankees club with Luke Voit at first base (unless Greg Bird can win back the job in spring training), Gleyber Torres at second, Tulowitzki at shortstop, Miguel Andujar at third base, Brett Gardner in left field, Aaron Hicks in center, Aaron Judge in right, Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter and Gary Sanchez behind the plate. The Yankees, along with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, met with Machado before the holidays, but the White Sox according to USA Todays Bob Nightengale are the only club known to have made a specific offer. After Tulowitzkis initial workout at Long Beach State for about a dozen interested clubs, the Yankees arranged a follow-up workout and liked what they saw. Based on the scouting reports and video, he really looked athletic, hes got that bounce back in his step, Cashman said. With shortstop Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery) sidelined until at least June, we obviously had a need, Cashman said, adding that Tulowitzki is a risk, having missed all last season due to bone spurs on both heels. Cashman perceived that Tulowitzki has a chip on his shoulder in wanting to prove hes past his injuries and can be a productive major leaguer. But having been a premier hitter with power, and a premier defender in his prime, Tulowitzki offers a lot of upside here in terms of what were able to evaluate. Projected Yankees lineup As the team currently stands, here is what the lineup could look like with the addition of Tulowitzki: | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2019/01/04/manny-machado-option-troy-tulowitzki-yankees/2486874002/ |
Will Space Tourism Ever Be A Viable Business? | Ten years ago, I wrote a story about the space tourism industry, centered around Mojave, California, a bit more than an hours drive north of Los Angeles. Mojave and the area around it, particularly Edwards Air Force Base, have been a cradle of rocket-powered flight since Chuck Yeager and the X-1. My space tourism story followed a very early morning in 2004. That day, I let my son play hooky from middle school. Instead, we drove to Mojave to see the launch of the first private manned space flight, SpaceShipOne. We craned our necks to watch the tiny craft detach from its mothership and zoom up to a record-breaking height of over 300,000 feet. It seemed we were on the verge of a new erathe era of private suborbital spaceflight. SpaceShipOne was to be the precursor of Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo, unveiled in December 2009. At about 48,000 feet, the craft would detach from its White Knight mothership. Two pilots would then fly the six space tourists on board for a brief trip to the edge of space, including six minutes of weightlessness. The craft would then glide to a landing on a giant runway. Although hardly mass-tourism, it was thought millions of people around the world could potentially afford what was projected as a $250,000 flight. But as its turned out, there is an enormous difference between space tourism and private space flight. The latter began as early as 1982 and appears to be a working business model. Elon Musks Space X achieved 19 launches in 2018, crowning the year with the successful December 2018 launch of 64 satellites. Space X is just one of several private space contenders, such as United Launch Alliance (a Boeing/Lockheed Martin joint venture) Europe's Arianespace, and Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, which, in addition to readying its New Shepherd suborbital rocket (which will sell tickets for suborbital flights "soon"), recently won a multi-billion engine development contract. Most customers are commercial or governments. The picture is not quite so rosy with the development of space tourism as a viable enterprise. To date, only seven people have made a total of 8 space tourism flights between 2001 and 2009, all on Russian Soyuz spacecraft through Space Adventures. These space tourists, (who included one woman, scientist Anousheh Ansari), reportedly paid between $20 and $40 million, participated in rigorous training and blasted off a Russian launchpad into orbit. But as the US space shuttle program ended in 2011 and US astronauts had to fly on Russian spacecraft to get to the ISS, it seems there were no more Soyuz seats for tourists. Suborbital space tourism had different, typically financial, problems. The launch I saw in 2004 may have been the crest of the space tourism "movement", not the beginning. SpaceShipOne, built by Scaled Composites, was one of more than 25 entries built to compete for the $10 million Ansari X Prize. But after SpaceShipOne won (and its design would be used in Virgin Galactic's suborbital bid) most of the other contenders shifted to other areas or went out of business. For other, technical setbacks led to business failures. Two competitors, Rocketplane and Armadillo Aerospace (funded by John Carmack of video game DOOM fame) eventually went belly-up. In what may have had troubling similarities to what happened in New Mexico, Rocketplane got significant tax subsidies from the state of Oklahoma, including access to an old Air Force base, then filed bankruptcy. Xcor was the company that most people considered Virgin Galactic's closest competition, promising a two-seat Lynx space plane that was supposed to fly four times a day. Xcor planned to have Lynx get up to suborbital space on its own power--no mothership. The story was exciting and the tickets were affordable, at $100,000. More than 280 people put down their hard-earned money, only to be left holding the bag when Xcor filed for bankruptcy in November 2017. Unlike all the other contenders, the company did not seem to lack for money. As of November 2014, the Financial Times reported that some $600 million had been invested in Virgin Galactic, about two-thirds of which came from Abu Dhabi. In 2017, an additional one billion investment by Saudi Arabia (with an option for an additional $480 million) was announced, but at the end of 2018, billionaire Richard Branson, founder, and chairman of Virgin Galactic, said he was temporarily suspending the Saudi partnership, after the disappearance of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi in October. The state of New Mexico also invested $220 million in the Spaceport America facility, beating out Southern California. Yet to date, not a single passenger has flown out of the spaceport in the desert about 20 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences. The hundreds of thousands of tourists who flocked to Florida's Cape Canaveral to watch fifty years of US manned space launches have also failed to appear. Virgin Galactic had other problems. As even space booster SpaceNews note, the company "originally anticipated beginning flights a decade ago. But technical problems slowed developed. Then, in 2014, there was a problem on a test flight. The subsequent crash in the Mojave killed the co-pilot and injured the pilot. The investigation slowed progress even further, but Virgin persevered. Finally, in December 2018, Virgins SpaceShipTwo finally flew into space on a test flight, earning the pilots their astronaut wings. After ten years of promises, the best indefatigable promotor Branson could come up with was, Today, for the first time in history, a crewed spaceship built to carry private passengers reached space. Hype seems inescapable in the race for private space. Even Wikipedia, the replacement for encyclopedias which were supposed to be collections of facts, has fallen victim to wishful thinking. The Space Tourism entry reads, As of 2018, no suborbital space tourism has yet occurred, but since it is projected to be more affordable, many companies view it as a money-making proposition." Burt Rutan, the designer of SpaceShipOne, is less sanguine. We got nothing done! he said in a 2017 podcast. But Virgin Galactic customers are still keeping the faith. The company has taken deposits for a decade and has about 700 customers whove plunked down their money for a place in space. Branson continues to promises he will be among the first passengers. If he does so, Branson (69 in July 2019) would be the second-oldest person in space, behind only the incredible John Glenn, 77 during his space shuttle flight in 1998. Other have bet against Branson and lost. But fifteen years later, the suborbital tourism business has yet to take off. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/01/04/will-space-tourism-ever-be-a-viable-business/ |
Why isnt there a single medical licence for all doctors in Canada? | Open this photo in gallery Dr. Mike Benusic, medical resident, ER doc and spokesperson for Medical Residents of Canada poses for photos in a Roncesvalles clinic in Toronto, Ont. on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. J.P. MOCZULSKI Monika Dutt has worked as a doctor in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Ontario. Although she has been practising medicine since 2005, a combination of family medicine and public health, each move has required Dr. Dutt to go through the frustrating and expensive process of getting a new medical licence. Thats because, while there is a standard set of requirements physicians need to meet to apply for a full licence to practise medicine in Canada, all 13 provinces and territories have separate licensing requirements and fees. Story continues below advertisement The Ontario application required 42 documents, right back to my medical-school transcripts, said Dr. Dutt, who is now the CEO of the Timiskaming Health Unit in northeastern Ontario. There were also thousands of dollars in fees. For example, the Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons has an annual fee of $1,950, plus an additional $975 if the fee is paid after July 1. A temporary licence costs an additional $850. There are also fees to review qualifications, $550, and a documentation fee of $450. A copy of a diploma costs $75 and a letter confirming a physician is a member is $40. Physicians who do locums (temporary postings) pay $250 more a month. Other provinces have similar fees. Universities and hospitals also charge fees for documentation. It really adds up, Dr. Dutt said. She said she understands why rigorous licensing is necessary to weed out the small number of physicians who have done awful things but it is not clear why the provinces and territories dont recognize each others licences. Dr. Dutt is not alone in asking that question. A growing chorus of medical groups including the Canadian Medical Association, Resident Doctors of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Medical Students are pushing for some form of national licensing. After all, training is similar in Canadas 17 medical schools and in residency programs across the country, and patients are not appreciably different. The physician groups pushing for change argue requiring separate licences in every jurisdiction makes it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for physicians, particularly in rural and remote parts of the country, to find doctors to fill in for them while theyre on holidays or when they wish to reduce their hours as they grow older. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement The onerous licensing rules also discourage interprovincial co-operation for example, a Vancouver orthopedic surgeon cant easily go to St. Johns to do hip replacements, even if there is a desperate need. The current fragmented system doesnt just create annoyance for physicians, it creates real barriers to patient care, Mike Benusic, the lead on national licensing for Resident Doctors of Canada, said in an interview. He said RDC believes the onerous relicensing provision is an unfair restriction on labour mobility and, as such, violates the Canadian Free Trade Agreeement. He splits his time between working as a public-health resident in Toronto and lending a hand in family practice in rural Alberta which means having two licences. Like many young physicians, he does locums in clinics or hospitals, often on weekends and holidays. Locums allow you to check out places, to see if you would like to practise there. They also pay well, so you can pay off some student debt, he said. Locums are also an important recruitment tool, especially for rural and remote communities, who use them to woo doctors. Story continues below advertisement According to a survey by Resident Doctors of Canada, 18.5 per cent of medical residents say, once they are in practice, they are planning to do locums in another province or territory. But 52 per cent said they would do so if it did not require the hassle and expense of getting additional licences. Dr. Benusic understands the hesitancy. He was asked to help out temporarily in a family practice in rural British Columbia, but realized the licensing process would take months and bring additional costs. A B.C. licence costs $1,700, requires a criminal record check and a plethora of other documents. Meanwhile, there were 800 patients waiting for care, he said. So who are these rules serving? Linda Inkpen, president of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC), which shares best practices among jurisdictions, said regulation is a provincial/territorial responsibility in medicine, just as it is in law, engineering and other fields, and thats not going to change. Constitutional issues put up major barriers to the idea of a national licence, she said in an interview. Dr. Inkpen added, its also not clear how much its really needed either. While there are surveys showing what physicians might do in theory, theres very little data on how many actually practise in more than one jurisdiction. Story continues below advertisement The CMA, in a small survey, found 10 per cent of physicians were licensed in more than one province or territory. But only 1,300 of the countrys 80,000 physicians were surveyed, and those who responded are likely those most interested in the issue of national licensing. Some physicians feel the colleges are merely protecting their turf and their income by maintaining separate regimes in each jurisdiction, but Dr. Inkpen said that is unfair. We are there to uphold standards and we take that role seriously, she said. (However, the standards are more or less the same in every province and territory.) She added provinces and territories hold regulatory bodies very close to their chest, as demonstrated by the lengthy federal-provincial battle over a national securities regulator. Dr. Inkpen said FMRAC has spent considerable time and effort breaking down provincial barriers, spurred by the Canadian Free Trade Agreement that come into force in 2017. For example, the application process is now similar in each province and territory. FMRAC, in conjunction with the provincial and territorial regulators, is looking at some sort of trusted physician licence (similar to a Nexus card for frequent flyers), which would provide expedited clearance for physicians to work temporarily in other jurisdictions. But that falls short of the portable locum licence that the residents group is looking for. The mandate of regulatory authorities is to protect the public and we support that fully, Dr. Benusic said. But we think a single licence would do that as effectively maybe even more effectively than separate licences in every jurisdiction. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-why-isnt-there-a-single-medical-licence-for-all-doctors-in-canada/ |
What is impeachment and how long does the process take? | Impeachment is a rarely used tool used to oust a sitting US president from power, and since Donald Trump became president chatter around the "I" word has increased in Washington circles. It first arose following accusations last year that Mr Trump has obstructed justice, but speculation began growing after the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in November in the midterm elections. Nancy Pelosi declined to rule out impeaching Mr Trump as she was sworn in as speaker for the US House of Representatives, kicking off the Democratic Partys control of the body. The Republican leader faces allegations he asked his FBI director James Comey to halt a probe of a senior former advisor, and dismissed Comey in a bid to curb an investigation into his campaign team's possible collusion with Russia. Some Democrats have mentioned impeachment as a possibility for the 45th president, although initiating the procedure remains a hypothetical. Here is a look at exactly what impeachment is and where it's been used before. Impeachment is the process by which Congress puts certain officials, namely the president, on trial. The constitution lays out a broad scope of offences that can lead to impeachment: Treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." Impeachment does not mean a president will necessarily be kicked out of office. It proceeds like a bill passing through legislature. First, a majority in the House of Representatives - 218 out of 435 members - must approve articles of impeachment previously approved in committee. The make-up of the House before Tuesday's midterm elections favoured Mr Trump, with Republicans holding 238 seats while Democrats held 193. (Four seats werevacant.) Now, however, the Democrats have won back at least 23 seats, meaning they control the chamber. Second, it goes to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is needed to convict the president and consequently remove him from office - even getting the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster would be difficult. Given the Republicans kept control and even gained seats in the Senate on Tuesday, it is highly unlikely Congress would remove him from office. In the unlikely event Mr Trump was impeached, Vice President Mike Pence would immediately take the oath of office and become president. Should Mr Pence be impeached too, then the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, would take the top job. Impeachment is a political process, not criminal. Congress has no power to impose criminal penalties on impeached presidents or officials. However criminal courts could try to punish officials if they are believed to have committed crimes. "There isn't any judicial review of impeachment decisions, so Congress just needs to be satisfied that Trump committed high crimes or misdemeanors," Jens David Ohlin, a law professor and associate dean at Cornell Law School said. "They are the ultimate judge of what meets that standard." | https://news.yahoo.com/impeachment-long-does-process-081206417.html |
Can Suns end up with 10 more wins than last season? | CLOSE Phoenix Suns first-year head coach Igor Kokoskov talks about where the team is right now near the halfway point of the 2018-19 season. Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic Clippers' Patrick Beverley (21) and Montrezl Harrell (5) force a steal on Suns' Devin Booker (1) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. on January 4, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic) Phoenix would have to win 32 of its last 42 games just to finish with a .500 record at 41-41. That's not happening, especially with the Suns (9-31) reeling on a five-game losing skid, after falling to the Clippers 121-111 on Friday. It would still be a fifth straight losing season, but a 10-win increase from having the NBAs worst record of 21-61 last season would be a noticeable improvement. Other teams are in the midst of making that kind of leap. Sacramento (19-19) is in the playoff mix after winning just 27 games last season while the Los Angeles Lakers (21-17) have nearly exceeded last seasons win total (25). Adding LeBron James has played a little part in the Lakers' resurgence. Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) gestures after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Los Angeles. Going into Fridays games, 14 of the remaining 24 teams on Phoenixs schedule have a .500 or losing record: Cleveland (8-30) New York (9-29) Chicago (10-28) Atlanta (11-26) Washington (15-23) Detroit (17-19) Minnesota (17-21) New Orleans (17-22) Utah (18-20) Memphis (18-19) Charlotte (18-19) Dallas (18-19) Miami (18-18) Sacramento (19-19) Dec 13, 2018; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson (20) dunks against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports) The Suns play the Jazz four times, the Kings and Pelicans three times and the Hawks, Hornets, Mavericks, Timberwolves and Cavaliers twice. They face the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, Pistons, Wizards and Grizzlies one more time. Phoenix should look at Cleveland, New York, Chicago and Washington as must-wins. The Cavs have a worse record, the Hawks nearly do, and neither is more talented than the Suns. Phoenix already beat New York by 18 at Madison Square Garden. It shouldnt lose the rematch at home. The Suns lost at Chicago. They shouldnt get swept by a team thats having just as bad a season. Then theres the Wizards, whom Phoenix shouldve beaten in regulation before losing in three overtimes. Dec 21, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza (1) shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Brad Mills, Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports) That game should feature Trevor Ariza returning to Phoenix after a short stint that ended in an early trade. Fans will be up for that one, and Suns players should be, too. Wins over the Knicks, Bulls and Wizards as well as each remaining pair against the Cavaliers and Hawks would put Phoenix at 16 wins. That leaves Detroit, Minnesota, New Orleans, Utah, Memphis, Charlotte, Dallas, Miami and Sacramento for a total of 19 games. All these teams have playoff aspirations. Theyre going to be tougher outs, but lets say Phoenix beats the Hornets, Mavericks, Kings, Timberwolves and Pelicans, avenges losses to Miami and Detroit and beats Memphis at home. Throw in two wins over Utah. After all, Kokoskov knows all that Jazz from having just coached there. Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Photo: Rick Scuteri, AP) Thats 10 more wins thatd give them 26 and leave the Suns with five more for 31. Now it gets tough. Check out the remaining 10 teams Phoenix has left to play: Milwaukee (26-10) Toronto (28-12) Denver (25-11) Golden State (25-14) Indiana (25-12) Houston (22-15) Portland (22-16) San Antonio (22-17) Los Angeles Clippers (22-16) Los Angeles Lakers (21-17) The Suns play the Rockets three times and the Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Warriors and Lakers twice. They face the Spurs, Clippers, Bucks, Raptors and Pacers one more time. Thats a total of 16 games. Dec 11, 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns small forward Josh Jackson (20) has his shot blocked by San Antonio Spurs small forward Rudy Gay (22) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Soobum Im, Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports) The Suns owe the Lakers, Blazers and Spurs for handing them embarrassing losses. With two more against the Nuggets, they should want to split one of those. They had a chance to beat Indiana at home. They stunned Milwaukee on the road and should have the confidence to upset the Bucks again. There are few of what would people would call sure victories on Phoenixs schedule. However, the more wins the Suns get against teams theyre not supposed to beat, the better chance they have of finishing the season with 10 more wins than they had last season. Twenty of Phoenixs last 42 games are at home. The Suns are currently 5-16 at home. A lot of factors go into this: Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton steals the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams on Dec. 28 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic) Injuries. They happen over the course of 82 games. Timing. Phoenix has a four-game stretch when it follows up a home game against Portland with three on the road against Denver, the Lakers and San Antonio. On the flip side, Milwaukee concludes a five-game trip in Phoenix in March. Trades before Feb. 7 deadline. With a young team looking just as much into the future as the present, if not more, a trade is highly possible. Flow. All of this is subjective. Some Suns fans might want them to tank another season to increase the odds of bringing Zion Williamson or R.J. Barrett to the desert, but a fourth straight season of 20 or so wins wont sit well with most. Back to 31. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/01/04/can-phoenix-suns-end-up-10-more-wins-than-last-seasons-mark/2487170002/ |
Is Fortnite making its finale? | A survey of friends and family suggests that while Fortnite is losing some of its popularity among tweens, teens and young adults, a strong legion of game-obsessed players still exists. Although the market is flooded with video games, Fortnite has several characteristics that make it quite attractive. The Pluses of Play The Battle Royale version released in September 2017 is free. It is also afforded applause because it is time-limited, winnable, and easy to play. Unlike many other games, each battle is discreet; players are not required to progress by passing complicated levels of play. It is also a game that can be won by the average player. The rules are straightforward and simple. The game is interactive and social. Gamers can play as individuals, in pairs or in squads of four. It is available on multiple platforms including game consuls, computers, and phones. This allows players to strategize with each other through live chat or phone. The game offers less socially savvy and/or shy kids a new way to engage with their peers, an opportunity to feel part of the social scene. Accolades abound for anyone who becomes a strong player. It is also a great way for friends and family to stay connected. Kids away at college for example, can play with the siblings they left behind. Parents can engage with their kids through play. Defining the Downsides CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fortnite can be addicting. As with any type of technology, parents should monitor how much their kids are playing and with whom. The live chat capability on game consuls means kids could be interacting with anyone including unsavory strangers. Multiple game platform capability could result in all day play. Its also important to understand that it is a battle game. While the graphics dont feature blood and gore the object of the game is kill or be killed. Parents should also be aware that while the basic game is free, players can purchase game enhancers. While fees are nominal, a few quick clicks on a consul connected to a credit card account can easily add up to hundreds of dollars. Fortnite will continue to forge ahead for now. You can actually purchase apparel. | https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/is-fortnite-making-its-finale |
How no-deal Brexit will hit travel in and out of the UK and Europe? | (CNN) It's prime time to start booking summer vacations, but for millions of people the looming threat of Britain crashing chaotically out of the European Union could transform their annual break into a misery of delays, cancellations and bureaucratic nightmares. Travelers seeking to head in or out of the UK face so many uncertainties that it's almost impossible to plan effectively to avoid them. Perhaps it'll be business as usual. Perhaps they'll spend hours, days even, trapped in snarl-ups at English Channel ports or airport lounges, with the rising heat of exasperation and anger -- dampened only by the inevitable downpours of the British summer. Disrupted vacations might seem trifling weighed against the huge trade deals at stake in the Brexit negotiations, but tourism across both sides of the UK border is worth billions of dollars and annual summer getaways are vital to the well-being of millions of key workers. Later in January, the UK's parliament is due to vote on a Brexit deal thrashed out by Prime Minister Theresa May, but with few expecting it to pass, the likelihood of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal is high. So much of modern British life -- from airport management to cheese production -- is tangled up in European legislation that the sudden severing of ties, scheduled for March 29, just days before schools break up for Easter, will have huge implications. Those traveling to and from the UK can expect significant disruption, according to travel industry experts. Aviation, currency, insurance, mobile phone roaming and passport control are all likely to be affected. "Preparing for no deal is now an operational priority for the UK government. So we have to entertain that nightmare," says Tom Jenkins, chief executive of ETOA, the European Tourism Association. Border delays Jenkins says that a no-deal scenario could cause growing queues at passport control, with the European Union intending to treat UK passengers as those from a "third country" rather than those enjoying full EU rights under freedom of movement. "This adds 90 seconds of border checks on each passenger," says Jenkins. "This is hours of delays disembarking any flight, and days of delays at Channel ports. It will be a spectacular introduction to the red tape of Brexit." Queues are likely to grow at both UK and EU airports, he added. Not everyone forecasts doom and gloom. "Tourism is big business in the UK, just as it is in Europe, and huge quantities of money are spent from both sides each year by visitors from all over the world," says Matt Dunne, operations manager at tour company Healing Holidays. "Therefore, the UK government and the EU will be keen to ensure this continues." These air travelers were delayed by flight cancellations. Brexit could create more problems for fliers. JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images While some, including Dunne, say airfares could rise in the event of no deal, air travel itself is expected to continue between the UK and EU even if an agreement isn't struck. The European Union issued guidance in December 2018 saying it intended to allow flights from the UK into its airspace. However, it was quick to clarify that this would only extend to "basic connectivity." Britain's exodus from the the EU's Single European Sky initiative could have knock-on implications for air traffic management, significantly affecting airport runway capacities. In an attempt to preempt post-Brexit confusion, budget airline Ryanair, one of Europe's largest carriers, is among several that have set up UK-based subsidiaries to get separate UK certification needed if Britain crashes out. Meanwhile, the UK's EasyJet has had to set up a European base. The UK government has said it is studying the EU's proposals, but that consumers could still book flights after March 29 in the event of no deal, "...with confidence." "Both the EU and UK have made it very clear that both parties want to ensure flights between the UK and EU continue in any scenario," says Reigo Eljas, lastminute.com's country director of the UK and Ireland. "The importance to retain the aviation links, which bring significant economic and cultural benefits, is clearly understood by both sides." Currently UK passports are marked "European Union." Assurances have been made by the EU's legislative body that visas will not be required, at least initially. "The European Commission announced in November 2018 that, even in a no-deal scenario, UK travelers can still visit the EU without a visa, providing the same is offered to European citizens visiting the UK," says ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents. However, the Commission has also confirmed that as of 2021, UK visitors to the EU will have to pay 7 (about $8) for the European Travel Information and Authorization Scheme (ETIAS), which can be bought online ahead of travel. This will last three years and ensure smooth entry at EU borders and airports, similar to the current ESTA scheme many tourists use to travel to the United States. The UK government is also advising citizens to ensure they have at least six months' validity left on their passport when entering the EU, up from the current 90-day limit. EU travelers heading to the UK are unlikely to face visa restrictions, as long as the UK reciprocates the EU's offer. However, the UK has yet to finalize its post-Brexit immigration strategy, adding further confusion. Your insurance may no longer cover you. PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images UK travelers are also likely to face major changes when it comes to insuring themselves while traveling within the EU. Currently, travelers who need to use health services can show a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access free medical care in any EU country. Yet ABTA sounds a worrying note, confirming that, "In the event of a no-deal Brexit, UK registered EHICs will no longer be valid." "British travelers need to check their travel insurance policies carefully to ensure that they provide sufficient cover," says Jo Mackay of Bookings For You, a holiday lettings firm specializing in France and Italy. "It is likely that insurance premiums could rise in the short term." ABTA, meanwhile, is advising UK travelers to check existing policies to see if they have emergency cover, as this will be required to cover costs if medical attention is needed and the UK and EU have not secured an agreement. Those driving to the EU from the UK via the Channel Tunnel and major ports in southeast England will benefit from the fact that train and ferry travel are protected by EU rail regulations and international maritime law respectively. However, drivers may need to get a special license in order to be fully compliant when on the EU's roads. In official guidance released in September 2018, the UK government said, "If there is no deal with the EU, you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the EU." That call from the beach could become more expensive after Brexit. Sean Gallup/Getty Images Similarly, concerns have also been raised about the cost of using mobile phones in the EU when traveling. EU-wide agreements which came into place in 2017 saw punitive roaming charges banned, but consumers are being advised that a no-deal Brexit could mean EU mobile networks charging UK travelers to access data, make calls and send text messages, with the UK being seen as a "third country" in this case. "Whilst the major UK providers have made clear statements that they currently have no plans to raise charges on roaming services post-Brexit, the loss of this EU regulation could leave consumers without a safety net when it comes to the cost of data whilst abroad in the future," says Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at UK consumer site Uswitch.com. The cost of travel for UK citizens is also likely to increase, although it could be beneficial to those traveling into the country as exchange rates are affected. "With a no-deal we expect sterling to further weaken and make the UK an even more attractive place to visit," says Rob Russell, joint CEO of AC Group, a UK-based tour operator. "Two of our biggest US clients have already seen an increase in sales for 2019." That said, the Britain that awaits them could be a vastly different place from that depicted in the holiday brochures if apocalyptic warnings about food, medicine and other shortages come to pass, not to mention the possibility of civil unrest. Russell also sounds a note of caution. Related content 25 of the best places to visit in the UK "No-deal could have a huge impact on tour operators," he says. "It is that knock-on effect that is potentially very damaging; it will put people off booking short weekend breaks, or making confirmed bookings. It might seem inconsequential to most people, but for tour operators it's their bread and butter." Despite both sides initiating no-deal planning in a bid to ameliorate the worst effects of such a scenario, there remains a heightened sense of uncertainty within the travel industry. That in turn has left consumers unclear as to how the world will look if a deal isn't signed off before the March 29 deadline. | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/how-brexit-will-affect-travel/index.html |
What Lessons Can We Learn From The 2013 Government Shutdown? | NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Michael Steel, who was Press Secretary for Speaker Boehner during the 2013 government shutdown, about the current government shutdown that is in its 14th day. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: And we begin this hour talking numbers. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Let's start with 420,000. That would be the rough estimate of the number of federal employees currently working without pay because the government has deemed them essential. CORNISH: Three hundred eighty thousand - about that many federal workers are furloughed, which means they're not working, and they're not getting paid. KELLY: Two - that's the number of times the president has met with party leaders in the White House Situation Room in the last 72 hours. CORNISH: Sixteen - that's the number of days the 2013 government shutdown lasted. Democrats and Republicans were fighting over the Affordable Care Act and raising the debt ceiling. KELLY: Twenty-four billion - dollars, that is - that's a Standard & Poor's analysis of how much that 16-day shutdown cost the government. CORNISH: If the current government shutdown lasts until Monday, it will be the second longest in history. KELLY: We are going to turn to someone now who played a key role in that 2013 government shutdown. Michael Steel was press secretary for then-Speaker of the House John Boehner. So he had a front-row seat for that standoff. Michael Steel, welcome to the program. MICHAEL STEEL: Good to be with you. Trump is now saying it could last months or even years. STEEL: President Trump is a president unlike any other, and this is a shutdown unlike any other. Most government shutdowns result from Congress, which under our Constitution has the power of the purse, trying to force the president to do something. This is exactly the opposite. This is the president shutting down the government essentially trying to force Congress to do something. It's kind of a "Blazing Saddles" approach, taking himself hostage. STEEL: Well, the 2013 shutdown was ultimately a mismatch between priorities and tactics. People believed that - people opposed the Affordable Care Act at that time. It was not popular by any stretch of the imagination. At the same time, shutting down the government in an attempt to defund it was also not very popular. And what we ultimately did was weather the political attacks from Senate Democrats, from President Obama until Republicans in moderate seats in the House were willing to join with Democrats to reopen the government and provide funding for the Affordable Care Act. This is a very different situation in the sense that it's hard to see any coalition coming together in either house, really, that would be able to pass a bill that included funding the government and this additional $5 billion that the president is demanding for his wall along the border. KELLY: One other thing that seems really different is the lack of urgency that we seem to be seeing now versus in 2013, where, I mean, now we are two weeks in and there really hadn't been any real talks until the last few days. STEEL: No. It's really strikingly different in two ways from that point of view. The first is that the usual rule of a government shutdown is the way you win a government shutdown fight is by making the public - convincing the public that you don't want to shut down the government. You have to show people that you have gone to every extent possible to avoid shutting down the government, and President Trump went exactly the opposite direction on that. He says that he is responsible for the shutdown. He wears it proudly. He's just - he's accepting responsibility or blame in a way that hasn't been typical. And the second way is, yeah, as you said, part of it is due to the fact that only a portion of the federal government is shut down. It's not a complete federal government shutdown, so critical areas including the Department of Defense are fully funded. But it is really striking the degree to which there's not a sense of urgency, there's not a sense of emergency. There's not that same sense of crisis that we've seen in past shutdowns. KELLY: You have a lot of experience working with Republicans on the Hill, so I want to ask you about one of the most, perhaps the most prominent Republican on the Hill this time around, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, who now is dealing with two Republican senators who have broken ranks and are urging a compromise. STEEL: No. Senator McConnell is actually kind of in the catbird seat. He has, the way he usually does, drawn a scenario where he doesn't think that the Senate should lead on this. There will be no more test votes, no more show votes. Nothing will happen until we have a proposal negotiated between House Democrats, agreed to by Senate Democrats - who have to provide at least ten votes in the Senate in order to get anything done or almost 10 votes in order to get anything done - and President Trump himself. And, well, that position allows senators up for - Republican senators up for re-election and potentially swing states like Colorado and Maine to favor opening the government, it allows most Senate Republicans who, look, want better border security. They think that an additional $5 billion is probably a pretty reasonable sum. They understand that a physical barrier in some portions of the border makes a lot of sense. But they understand that politically shutting down the government to accomplish that goal is not popular and also unlikely to succeed. KELLY: That's Michael Steel. He was press secretary for Speaker of the House John Boehner. He's now with Hamilton Place Strategies. Michael Steel, thank you. STEEL: Thank you. Copyright 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. | https://www.npr.org/2019/01/04/682350024/what-lessons-can-we-learn-from-the-2013-government-shutdown?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=allthingsconsidered |
How many women have been nominated to be US president? | Just before 2018 turned into 2019, Senator Elizabeth Warren announced she would be exploring a run for president in the 2020 US election. If the Massachusetts Democrat is chosen as the presidential candidate by her party, she will join a list of women who have run to be US president (though none so far have won). Female Democrats show Capitol Hill's new face but some traditions persist Read more Its a simple question that is surprisingly tricky to answer, but heres an estimate: 31 women have been nominated to run as president by their respective parties. Since many of those women have run for president multiple times, the total number of times women have been nominated totals 41. Where possible, the race of the candidate has been illustrated in the chart here. The women include Charlene Mitchell, who ran for the Communist party in 1968; 54-year-old Margaret Wright, described as a grandma when she was nominated by the Peoples party in 1976; and Lenora Fulani, who was the nominee of the New Alliance party in 1988 and again in 1992. Facebook Twitter Pinterest A clip of the 9 October 1975 Star News. Photograph: Star News, 1975 The total shown here is higher than the list provided by Center for American Women and Politics, but thats because it includes the likes of Gracie Allen, who ran for the Surprise party in 1940. Allen was a comedian who ran as a publicity stunt and says she chose the name of her party because her mother was a Democrat, her father a Republican, and she had been born a surprise (her running song included the lyric Vote for Gracie to win the presidential racie). She retired her candidacy before the vote took place, saying she wanted the serious campaigning to go ahead. But she still managed to gain thousands of write-in votes. However, Allen was not the first woman to run for the presidency. That accolade goes to Victoria Woodhull who, in 1872, ran for the Equal Rights party alongside Frederick Douglass. Not long before announcing her run, Woodhull gave a lecture calling for marriage laws to be completely rethought (the press covered it as a theory of free love and derided the idea). It took 144 years after Woodhulls run for any woman to be considered a serious contender for the White House. When Hillary Clinton ran in 2016, she won the popular vote (gaining 2.9 million votes more than Donald Trump) but didnt become president. She ran alongside five other women who ran for the Green party, Peace and Freedom party, Socialist Workers party, Workers World party and the Revolutionary party. Some of those parties have a long-held tradition of nominating female candidates to represent them in their presidential bids. The Workers World party has had six female candidates, while the Socialist Workers party has had three. Clinton was the first ever woman to be nominated to run as the candidate for a major political party. If chosen by the Democrats, Elizabeth Warren would be the second woman nominated by a major party to run for president but she would be only the 32nd woman nominated by a party for a White House bid. This is a new column that illustrates numbers from the news each week. Write to me: [email protected] | https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2019/jan/05/women-nominated-run-us-president-history |
What Is a Student Loan Servicer? | Student loans account for a large and increasing share of consumer debt, especially for younger borrowers. According to third-quarter 2018 Federal Reserve data, borrowers in the U.S. owed more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. That mountain of debt is handled by student loan servicers -- the folks who collect borrowers' monthly loan payments and take care of other administrative tasks to maintain the loans. If you have student loans, you should know who your student loan servicers are and what they can and cannot do. Learn how they can go beyond collecting payments and help you manage your loans. Nearly 90 percent of student loans issued in the 2017-18 school year were federal loans from the U.S. Department of Education. The remaining nonfederal loans were from states, institutions and private lenders, such as banks and credit unions. Private lenders may administer their own student loans. For example, Sallie Mae manages its own loans rather than handing over that duty to an outside servicer, says spokesman Rick Castellano. But the Department of Education outsources most administrative tasks to student loan servicers. In the 2018 federal budget, student loan servicers had more than $800 million in loan servicing contracts with the department. [Read: Best Student Loan Consolidation Lenders.] A student loan servicer oversees a loan from the time the borrower enrolls in school, through grace and repayment periods, until the borrower pays back the loan, as long as it doesn't go into default. One of the key functions of student loan servicers is to prevent borrowers from defaulting on their loans, according to the Postsecondary National Policy Institute. You can't pick your federal student loan servicer or your private loan servicer. If you've got a federal loan, the Department of Education chooses a servicer for you. With a private loan, the lender either services the loan or hires an outside company to manage it. The servicer of a federal loan can change during the life of your loan. Always open and read any letters or emails you receive about your loan in case the Department of Education is notifying you of a transfer to a different servicer, Castellano says. Christina Randell, president and CEO of My Education Solutions, which helps borrowers wipe out student loan debt, notes that if you consolidate your federal loans, you might end up with a new loan servicer. When a servicer changes, you will usually receive multiple notifications, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research at Savingforcollege.com. These include a letter from the old servicer before the transfer and a letter from the new servicer after the transfer. Despite a servicer switch, the terms of your loan -- including the interest rate and the payment period -- should stay the same, says Emeka Oguh, founder and CEO of PeopleJoy, a company that enables employers to offer student loan repayment benefits to employees. If you have a federal loan, the loan servicer should notify you once the Department of Education has assigned it to your account. If you've got a private loan, your lender will provide loan servicing details. To retrieve information about your federal student loan, including the name of the loan servicer, log into My Federal Student Aid or the National Student Loan Data System, Randell says. Another option: Check your credit report, which will include the name of your student loan servicer once you graduate and begin making payments. StudentLoans.gov, operated by the Department of Education, lists the names, websites and phone numbers of student loan servicers it does business with. While borrowers mainly interact with student loan servicers about one thing -- paying the monthly bill -- loan servicers also can help if you run into trouble. Here's how. [Read: Best Private Student Loans.] It can adjust your repayment plan. A standard repayment plan for a federal student loan stretches across a 10-year period. However, you might be eligible to extend the repayment period to 25 years, resulting in lower monthly payments but a higher overall cost because you're paying more interest. | https://news.yahoo.com/student-loan-servicer-140000418.html |
Could Apple Finally Be Succumbing To Gravity? | The publication of a letter lowering Apples projected revenue due to declining sales in China and other markets, along with the companys reliance on its core product, the iPhone, prompted a 10% drop in the price of its shares, part of a loss of 38% in the last 90 days, and trading was briefly halted. The fall in Apples value over the last three months is higher than the total value of Facebook. This is a nightmare scenario for any company: a loss measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars, taking Apple from the worlds first trillion-dollar company to the markets fourth-most valuable Apples results, logically, drove the market down overall, to be expected when a company that usually sails past its quarterly targets revises them down for the first time in a very long while. None of this is good news for anyone. The trade war being waged by Donald Trump and attacks against Chinese companies such as Huawei is destabilizing not only Apple, whose products have been boycotted, but all Western companies with a stake in Chinas vast market. The problems facing these companies are in large part due to the fact that the worlds largest economy is now run by an impulsive and childish politician prepared to even shut down government because Congress wont authorize funding for his maniacal wall. That said, Trump isnt entirely to blame. Apple has pushed its strategy to the limit: its devices are now so expensive and the improvements to them so minimal that many users prefer to fix them and postpone buying a new one, which is causing problems in emerging markets, where it is experiencing lower growth and retention than in the West. The smartphone market has reached maturity, terminals are becoming commoditized and Apple is a company whose results depend heavily on sales of the iPhone. A problem of growth and without doubt, a major challenge. And yet, and despite everything, I t think the company will overcome its problems in the medium and long term. My impression is that Apple is going through a difficult period, but that it has all the ingredients it needs to emerge unscathed. I dont play the stock markets, but if I did, this would be, in my opinion, the perfect moment to buy and hold Apple shares. In the future scenario of technology and consumer electronics, I see Apple and its stance on privacy giving it a much more sustainable position in an increasingly regulated future than most other technology companies I know. In addition, the company continues to show a strong vocation for innovation, setting the agenda for the entire consumer electronics industry; it has the most valuable distribution network in the world, generates more money per second than any other, it is still a well-run company with principles, with a growing and very profitable orientation toward services and continues to invest significantly in research and development. Apples size leaves me in little doubt about its future, and in all honesty, right now, Im more worried about the future of the United States and China and its possible impact on the global economy than on the future of Apple. Its never good news when a companys share price falls, but in my opinion, the doom and gloom much of the media has been predicting in recent days is vastly exaggerated. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/enriquedans/2019/01/05/could-apple-finally-be-succumbing-to-gravity/ |
What Does It Mean to Support R. Kelly? | Robert is a master manipulator, the R&B singer Stephanie Sparkle Edwards says in the second episode of Lifetimes new docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly. Everybody knows it now. They didnt know it back then. Her voice is resigned in this sequence, a precursor to forthcoming scenes in which Edwards tearily expresses remorse for introducing the singer to her then 12-year-old niece, the alleged victim at the center of Kellys 2002 child pornography case. Executive-produced by the writer and filmmaker dream hampton, Surviving R. Kelly painstakingly details the now widely known allegations that have thus far not hindered the 51-year-old megastars nearly three-decade career. The musician and his representatives declined to comment for the series. Kelly has largely denied the many accusations against him over the years; even his startling 19-minute July confessional track, I Admit, shirked accountability in favor of self-aggrandizement. Lifetimes rendering of Kellys story does not excavate unreported rumors with an eye trained uncritically toward salacious gossip. Rather, the documentary brings together the previously reported but nonetheless disturbing accounts of his accusersand indicts the many people who have enabled his alleged abuses with their silence. Through its attention to overlapping patterns in the womens accusations and in the social systems that fail young black girls and women, Surviving R. Kelly repeatedly makes an almost impossibly simple observation: The singers alleged history of systematized predation could not have occurred without a ready network of support. In six hour-long episodes being aired over the course of three nights, the Lifetime series documents the life and alleged abuses of the singer, producer, and songwriter through interviews with almost 50 people. The first nights installments, which premiered Thursday, explore Kellys experience of being sexually abused as a child, as well as the musicians clandestine relationship with the late singer Aaliyah; the third and fourth episodes detail the infamous child pornography case and sex tape; and the final evenings portions trace recent allegations that Kelly has been holding young women captive in his Atlanta and Chicago homes. With much of its runtime dedicated to detailed testimonies from Kellys accusers, Surviving R. Kelly renders the years of reporting on his alleged misdeeds far more immediate, and unequivocally human. It is a staggering, stomach-churning narrative workespecially for those who have experienced similar traumas. Allegations that R. Kelly serially preyed on women, many of them underage, were first reported in December 2000 by the Chicago Sun-Times writer Jim DeRogatis and his colleague Abdon Pallasch, who appears in the documentary. But rumors of Kellys predilections had existed for years: In 1994, at 27, the singer married the 15-year-old Aaliyah; on the pairs falsified marriage certificate, which Vibe magazine first reported, she is listed as 18 years old. The marriage was annulled two months later, shortly after the release of Aaliyahs queasily titled debut album, the Kelly-produced Age Aint Nothing but a Number. By the end of 1996, Kelly had married Andrea Lee (now Kelly), a dancer on his tour, and been sued for emotional distress by Tiffany Tia Hawkins, an aspiring singer who, according to the suit, said they began having sex when she was 15. (The case was settled in 1998, with the condition that Hawkins not speak publicly about it.) In January 2001, a month after the Chicago Sun-Times published its first landmark investigation, a video depicting a man who appeared to be Kelly engaging in sexual acts with someone who appeared to be a minor was sent to the publication. Throughout this period, and well after, Kelly continued to accrue astronomical commercial success and critical acclaim for his overtly sexual, narrative-driven hits. | https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/01/surviving-r-kelly-is-a-powerful-visual-testimony/579427/?utm_source=feed |
Is Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF a Buy? | The data is clear: Dividend-paying stocks have historically trounced the returns of non-dividend-paying stocks, and it isn't even close. But following the trend by building your own dividend portfolio of individual stocks can be time-consuming and costly. For hands-off investors, a dividend-focused ETF may be a better solution. Insert the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEMKT: VYM). This exchange-traded fund tracks more than 400 of the highest-yielding stocks on the market, showering its investors with nearly 60% more in dividends than they would earn by investing in S&P 500 index funds. But before you sink your entire retirement fund into this low-cost fund, here are some things you should know about how the ETF works, what it invests in, and how to decide if it's right for you. Hand placing U.S. quarter into change jar full of quarters, next to four ascending stacks of quarters More Image source: Getty Images. How Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF works When analyzing any index ETF, you have to dig into the guts of how it works. ETFs are designed to track an index, so whether an ETF is "good" or "bad" is a function of the underlying index it tracks. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, which takes a simple, but effective approach to investing in dividend stocks. The mechanics of the index are easy to understand. The index starts with a list of all U.S. stocks that pay a dividend, ranking them by their yield. The index throws out real estate investment trusts (REITs), which would otherwise dominate the fund and make it just another REIT ETF. Once REITs have been removed, stocks are added to the index one by one until it includes stocks that make up half the total market value of all dividend-paying stocks excluding REITs. In one final twist, this fund weights stocks by market cap, so that it invests more in the largest companies and proportionately less in the smallest companies. The net result is a high-yielding ETF largely made up of the very largest U.S. stocks. Market Cap % of High Dividend Yield ETF % of Total Stock Market ETF Giant 59.7% 47% Large 28.5% 29.2% Medium 9.7% 17.4% Small 2% 5.6% Micro 0.1% 0.9% Data source: Morningstar. Compared to, say, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, which simply holds basically every stock on U.S. stock exchanges, the High Dividend Yield ETF holds more megacap and large-cap stocks, and fewer small- and micro-cap stocks in its portfolio. That's primarily due to the fact that larger, established businesses are much more likely to pay a dividend than small and midsize companies. The types of businesses Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF invests in Some sectors tend to pay higher yields than others. Utilities, for example, have always been some of the market's highest-yielding stocks. In contrast, technology companies tend to be some of the lowest-yielding stocks on the market, because they invest their profits for growth and trade at higher valuations. Compare the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF to the S&P 500 and you'll see that it has some meaningful differences in portfolio construction. The high-yield ETF invests comparatively less in technology companies and invests far more in consumer defensive ones (consumer staples stocks). To some conservative investors, the sector differences may be a feature. To investors who want more exposure to faster-growing technology companies, it's a bug. | https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-high-dividend-yield-etf-123000556.html |
What's closed during the partial government shutdown? | The partial government shutdown began on December 22 after President Trump and congressional Democrats could not agree on funding for the president's long-sought southern border wall. While Mr. Trump and congressional leaders have met periodically to try to resolve the impasse -- twice in the first week of January -- they have made no discernible progress. The president told Democratic leaders he was willing to have the government shut down for "years" over border wall funding. Nine out of 15 federal departments are closed, as well as dozens of agencies. However, several funding bills were passed and signed, so about 75 percent of government services are unaffected by the shutdown. More than 420,000 federal employees are working without pay, including agents from the FBI, ATF, DEA and CBP, as well as staff from the State Department, Coast Guard, IRS and Department of Homeland Security. Another 380,000 workers have been furloughed from departments including NASA, the State Department, the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Transportation Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the IRS. Here is what is -- and isn't -- affected by the 2018-2019 partial government shutdown so far: What is closed during the government shutdown: The Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., shut their doors on January 2. The National Zoo has closed, although animals are still being cared for by zoo workers. Many national parks have also closed, but several remain open during the shutdown, albeit without services. Sanitary conditions have rapidly deteriorated at many of the nation's parks, with restroom toilets overflowing and trash piling up. At Yellowstone, private companies that offer tours have been performing some maintenance, enabling them to continue operating throughout the winter, if necessary, The Associated Press reported. Volunteer Alexandra Degen cleans a restroom at Joshua Tree National Park on January 4, 2019 in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Volunteers with 'Friends of Joshua Tree National Park' have been cleaning bathrooms and trash at the park as the park is drastically understaffed during the partial government shutdown. Campgrounds and some roads have been closed at the park due to safety concerns. Mario Tama/Getty Images The IRS has mostly stopped working (only 12 percent of its staff are working -- without pay), and those who are working are mostly focused on security and technology, not on taxpayers' refunds. The IRS is not issuing refunds, updating tax forms or answering phone help lines during the shutdown, according to its shutdown plans. Immigration courts have also closed, forcing judges to indefinitely postpone hearings scheduled months in advance. There is already a backlog of over 800,000 cases. E-Verify, the government immigration system and database employers use to check and confirm that employees are eligible to work in the United States, is out of service during the shutdown. It typically takes just a few seconds for E-Verify to compare an employee's records against DHS and Social Security records. #EVerify is not available due to lapse in DHS appropriations. https://t.co/xzw4doYGww USCIS E-Verify (@EVerify) December 22, 2018 Still open and operating during shutdown: Mail is still being delivered. Social Security checks are still going out to recipients, and Medicare and Medicaid are unaffected by the partial shutdown. Federal courts are still open and operating through January 11, by relying on court fee balances and funds that do not depend on a congressional appropriation. Should the shutdown extend beyond that date, the courts would continue to operate under the Anti-Deficiency Act, in support of Article III powers. However, staffing could be reduced. TSA agents are considered essential. However, by the 14th day of the shutdown, TSA had seen an increase in sick calls since the shutdown started, although that had not negatively impacted the agency's ability to screen airline passengers, CBS News' Kris Van Cleave reported. As of January 5, major airlines and airports were unaware of any issues or delays at checkpoints. Special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation will continue because it does not depend on a congressional appropriation for its funding. Nutrition benefits like SNAP will be available through January. Other nutrition assistance programs may operate with any state and local funding resources that are available, but no other federal funds will be provided during the shutdown. Child nutrition programs, like School Lunc and School Breakfast will keep operating into February. Forest Service law enforcement and emergency response efforts will continue. U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, which deals with naturalization and citizenship, has been uninterrupted because its operations are funded by user fees. Veterans are still receiving their benefits because the Veterans Affairs Department was among those funded through September 2019. Passport services will still be offered during the shutdown. Passports can be renewed by mail or in person at passport agencies, post offices, libraries and other facilities, and processing times are expected to remain unchanged. Unintended consequences Pay raises for top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, were set to go into effect on Saturday, The Washington Post reported. But federal agencies were told in a memo issued Friday from the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management to hold off on enacting the raises during the shutdown, according to The Associated Press. A pay freeze for the officials had been close to expiring due to the shutdown. | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-what-closed-open-affected-explained-post-office-irs-national-parks-2019-01-05/ |
Which film should win the 2019 Golden Globe for Best Drama? | "Black Panther" and "A Star Is Born" were two of the biggest blockbusters of 2018, and both are nominated for Best Drama at the 2019 Golden Globes. "Black Panther" is regarded as a cultural milestone, and earned $1.3 billion at the box office worldwide. "A Star Is Born" also slayed at the box office, and many critics regard the film as the frontrunner to win at the Globes. PERSPECTIVES Below is the synopsis of "Black Panther," per Rotten Tomatoes. "Black Panther" follows T'Challa who, after the events of "Captain America: Civil War," returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T'Challa's mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk. "Black Panther" not only holds a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but moviegoers and critics alike praised the film for being a cultural milestone for the black diaspora and cinema in general. Below is the synopsis of "A Star is Born," per Rotten Tomatoes. In "A Star Is Born," Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life. Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and the heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive. In this new take on the iconic love story, four-time Oscar nominee Cooper ("American Sniper," "American Hustle," "Silver Linings Playbook"), makes his directorial debut, and also stars alongside multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Gaga in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Cooper portrays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally. She has given up on her dream to become a successful singer, until she meets Jack, who immediately sees her natural talent. In addition to the Golden Globes, "A Star Is Born" is also garnering Oscar buzz; it could potentially be nominated not only for Best Picture, but Best Actress (Lady Gaga) and Best Actor (Bradley Cooper) as well. The film holds a fresh rating of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and fans love the award-nominated soundtrack. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/which_film_should_win_the_2019.html |
Why is Saints safety Chris Banjo having so much fun? | Since joining the New Orleans Saints in 2016, Chris Banjo, the backup safety and special teamer, has played 39 games with zero starts. But it would be hard to find a more popular player in the locker room. We feed off of his positive energy, free safety Marcus Williams said. Theres no negativity in him. Banjo, 28, has an infectious smile and laugh, and while hes not the most important player on the roster, several players say his leadership helps on both special teams and defense. Now in his sixth NFL season his first three-plus years were with the Green Bay Packers Banjo understands that all players can add value to a team. One way is by making plays, but because Banjos role is almost exclusively on special teams, he said he adds value by being one of the teams energy guys. Craig Robertson, the Saints' one-man hype machine, finds energy in his love of the game Defensive end Cameron Jordan referred to Banjo as a spark plug. Whenever the Saints have a big play, No. 31 is normally among the first people celebrating, and after games, hes often in the middle of the locker room dance circle. This game is hard enough as it is, just from a preparation standpoint to obviously a physical standpoint, Banjo said, So Ive always just tried to have fun competing and compete to the highest of my ability. Banjo went undrafted in 2013 and isnt an every-down player, but hes just as competitive as his teammates. In fact, Banjo has probably won more games than anyone else since joining the Saints in 2016 playing Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64. Players can often be found playing the game during media availability, and Banjos skills leave his teammates in disbelief. They come close to beating him but rarely do. For as lively as Banjo is on the sidelines, when he plays Super Smash Bros, hes pretty reserved. Other Saints players will boast about a kill or an impressive move, but he sits back and waits to unload his trash talk for when he inevitably wins. Linebacker Craig Robertson, who also plays the game a lot, said he has no problem admitting Banjo is better. Banjo, however, will not concede on who of the two has the best dance moves. Banjo and Robertson are among the most energetic guys in the Saints locker room, and their bond helps them liven things up. Both players are from the Houston area and went to college in Dallas, Banjo at SMU and Robertson at North Texas. I guess we kind of feed off each other, Robertson said. Its kind of like were jokesters. We just kind of make everything fun. Around us, theres never like a dull situation. Beating Kirby with Samus in Super Smash Bros. obviously has no bearing on what happens on the field, but those hotly contested games are just another opportunity for Saints players to bond in a competitive way. Then, when Sundays come, the players all hope to celebrate together. These are my brothers, so whenever I get to see them succeed in opportunities that I know they prepared for, thats a great feeling, and I just want to enjoy that moment with them, Banjo said. There have been a few times this season when Banjo was the reason for the celebration. Against the Eagles in Week 11, Banjo played a season-high 13 defensive snaps in the 48-7 blowout, and he made two interceptions. He said the special part of those plays was the aftermath, when his teammates celebrated his on-field performance the way he normally does theirs. Linebacker Vince Biegel considers himself a high-energy guy, and hes glad to have like-minded players like Banjo and Robertson on the Saints special teams unit. According to Biegel, players genuinely want to play special teams on the Saints, which isnt always the case. Meanwhile, the defensive backs see a side of Banjo that others dont. Because he rarely plays on defense, he has a unique perspective from the sidelines, and the other players in the secondary appreciate his input. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore said he and the other young defensive backs look up to Banjo. Banjo is just a great guy, Lattimore said, smiling when asked about his teammate. He has that leadership ability. Hes not the most outspoken player, but hell come to you one-on-one and let you know to turn it up. He never gets to the point where hell call you out in front of people. Another word Banjos teammates use to describe him is focused. Yes, he ensures his teammates are locked in during meetings or games, but that focus also extends to the fun times. Banjo thinks its important to appreciate the opportunities to celebrate. As he said, a lot of teams dont have a reason to dance. These moments dont last forever, especially having the season that were having and that were fortunate to have, Banjo said. Hopefully, itll continue. | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/why-is-saints-safety-chris-banjo-having-so-much-fun.html |
How On Earth Did 'Pokmon GO' Make Almost $800 Million In 2018? | The biggest story of the gaming year is certainly Fortnite, which made Epic Games $3 billion this year despite its battle royale mode being free, selling only cosmetics. But a similarly impressive story is that Pokmon GO made $795 million in 2018, two years after its release, which represents a 35% jump from the year before. And Id argue that it did so while being a free game that sells far less attractive items than Fortnites never-ending carousel of skins. Well, it is still a low key global phenomenon, even if its not in headlines as much, and Niantic really delivered on their promise to double down on Pokmon GO, which many assumed would not happen with a new Harry Potter game on deck (which didnt actually come out in 2018 the way many expected it would). Engagement has been dramatically increased with new features like the friend system, research quests, trading and PvP battling. Weve seen the launch of new generations of Pokmon, working our way up all the way to Gen 4 out of 7 now. There was plenty of cross-promotion with Lets Go Pikachu and Eevee as Nintendo and The Pokmon Company are finally leaning into Pokmon GOs success. Past that, as SerebiiNet points out, there were 31 events, 12 Community Days and 4 special raiding days in Pokmon GO in 2018, as opposed to 10 total events in 2017. Niantic has figured out that to keep players engaged there needs to essentially be a non-stop parade of events in some form or another. Community Days in particular have been a huge hit for the game, as during a few hours every month it recreates the feeling of everyone is playing GO outside, making large scale, IRL meet-ups still possible, even if the craziness of two years ago has subsided. I remain impressed with GOs revenue not just in terms of player engagement, but again, because the monetization in this game isjust not that intense. Everything else is just icing, and this is not Fortnite selling elaborate $20 skins or $40 cosmetic sets on a non-stop 24 hour rotation. GO has also steered away from both loot boxes and traditional mobile trappings like pay-to-skip wait timers. Its kind of miraculous its putting up this much revenue given the way its monetized, which speaks to the overall breadth and devotion of its playerbase. This latest revenue total means that Pokmon GO has brought in $2.2 billion since its launch in the summer of 2016, and it seems possible it will hit $3 billion by the end of 2019, if they keep up this kind of momentum. And thats not counting whatever Niantic brings in from Harry Potter and its WB partnership. What a year, indeed. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read my new sci-fi thriller novel Herokiller, available now in print and online. I also wrote The Earthborn Trilogy. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2019/01/05/how-on-earth-did-pokemon-go-make-almost-800-million-in-2018/ |
Why Is Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Up 2.6% Since Last Earnings Report? | Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) reported earnings 30 days ago. We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Broadcom Inc. (AVGO). Shares have added about 2.6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. Broadcom Tops Q4 Earnings Estimates, '19 Outlook Strong Broadcom Limited has delivered stellar fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results. Non-GAAP earnings of $5.85 per share marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.58 per share. The figure improved 27.5% from the year-ago quarter and 17.5% sequentially. Non-GAAP revenues from continuing operations were $5.448 billion, soaring 124% from the year-ago quarter and 8% sequentially. GAAP revenues came in at $5.444 billion. The figure marginally surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.401. Decline in its large wireless customers and lower-than-expected demand in broadband business due to sluggish carrier spending is a headwind. Segment Revenues Wired Infrastructure revenues (41% of total revenues) totaled $2.2 billion, up 3% from the year-ago quarter. The upside was primarily driven by robust demand for cloud data centers and traditional enterprises. Broadcom also announced that robust growth in networking and compute offloading in cloud data centers, and solid growth spending by enterprise IT positively impacted the segmental revenues. However, lower-than-expected demand in broadband business owing to sluggish carrier spending is a concern. As a result, revenues from broadband were down year over year. Wireless Communications (31% of total revenues) was down 5% year over year to roughly $1.7 billion. Decline in large wireless customers remains a headwind. Enterprise Storage (23% of total revenues) surged 96% from the year-ago quarter to $1.3 billion. The improvement was largely backed by contribution from the recently-acquired Brocade Fibre Channel switch business and strong enterprise IT spending. Industrial & other (5% of total revenues) increased 5.8% year over year to $272 million. Excluding IP licensing revenues, Industrial business continued to grow, highlighting single-digit increase year over year. Operating Details Non-GAAP gross margin expanded 510 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 68.4%. The increase was buoyed by favorable product mix, driven by higher revenues from wired segment. Non-GAAP operating expenses increased 11.4% year over year to $863 million. Operating margin expanded 520 bps from the year-ago quarter to 52.5%. Liquidity As of Nov 4, 2018, cash & cash equivalents were $4.3 billion compared with $4.1 billion in the previous quarter. Long-term debt was $17.5 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, in line with the prior quarter level. Broadcom generated cash flow from operations of roughly $2.6 billion compared with $2.2 billion in the previous quarter. Capital expenditures totaled $106 million, down from the last quarter figure of $120 million. During the reported quarter, the company repurchased approximately 6.4 million shares worth $1.53 billion. In fiscal 2018, the company repurchased 31.9 million shares worth $7.258 billion. Additionally, Broadcom returned $723 million in the form of dividends to shareholders during the fourth quarter. The company also approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.65 per ordinary share (an increase of 51%, sequentially). Guidance For fiscal 2019, Broadcom forecasts non-GAAP revenues of almost $24.5 billion. Non-GAAP operating margin is anticipated to be 51%, while non-GAAP operating expenses are expected at around $874 million. The company projects capital expenditures of $550 million for fiscal 2019. In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. VGM Scores Currently, Broadcom Inc. has a nice Growth Score of B, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with an A. However, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-broadcom-inc-avgo-2-143002962.html |
Why Is Signet (SIG) Down 15.4% Since Last Earnings Report? | It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Signet (SIG). Shares have lost about 15.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. Signet Posts Q3 Loss, Revenues Up Y/Y Signet Jewelers Limited posted adjusted loss in third-quarter fiscal 2019. Nevertheless, both bottom and top lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the reported quarter. Performance was mainly driven by growth in same-store sales. Q3 Details The company reported adjusted loss of $1.06 per share in the quarter, which was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.08. Also, the same declined more than five folds compared with the year-ago quarters loss of 20 cents. This jewellery retailer generated total revenues of $1,191.7 million that came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,172 million and rose 3% year over year. On a constant-currency basis, revenues increased 3.3%. Per management, sales were primarily driven by strong same-store sales performance, the James Allen acquisition in September 2017 and the application of new revenue recognition accounting standards. These upsides were partly negated by unfavourable currency, impacts stemming from calendar shifts and store closures. The companys same-store sales rose 1.6% year over year. E-commerce sales, including James Allen, came in at $125 million, up 54.9% on a year-over-year basis. We note that e-commerce improved across all channels in the quarter and accounted for 10.5% of total sales. Adjusted gross profit increased 15.6% to $371.2 million, while gross margin expanded 330 basis points (bps) to 31.1%. Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were up 9.2% to $410.3 million in the quarter, owing to higher advertising expenses, rising incentive compensation and increasing credit outsourcing costs that were partly offset by cost savings. Adjusted operating loss came in at $38.9 million, against operating income of $5.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Segment Discussion Sales at the North America segment increased 4.1% on a reported basis (or 4.3% at constant currency basis) to $1,064.3 million. Comps rose 2.1% on the back of James Allens contribution to sales and renewed focus on product assortment. Further, comps increased 2.8%, 16.2% and 0.7% in Zales, Piercing Pagoda and Kay segment, respectively, while it remained flat for Jared. Sales at the International segment decreased 5.5% to $121.3 million on a reported basis and declined 4.2% on a constant-currency basis. Comps at the segment declined 3.1%, along with flat ATV and a transaction decline of 2.7%. Dismal comps performance mainly stemmed from soft-traffic trends and a tough consumer environment. Further, lower sales of diamond jeweler and fashion watches were partially offset by higher prestige watch sales. Other Details Signet ended the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $130.7 million, net accounts receivable (inclusive of accounts receivable held for sale) of $14.1 million and inventories worth $2,647.1 million. Long-term debt and total shareholders equity were $660.4 million and $1,349 million, respectively. For fiscal 2019, the company plans to close more than 200 stores and open approximately 30 stores. As of Nov 3, the company operated 3,478 stores. The company has repurchased 8.8 million shares worth approximately $485 million year to date. As of Nov 3, the company is left with share repurchase authorization of $165.6 million. Guidance Management revised its guidance for fiscal 2019. The company anticipates earnings per share between $4.15 and $4.40 compared with its prior guidance of $4.05-$4.40. It now expects same-store sales to be flat to up 1% compared with the prior view of flat to down 1.5%. Sales for the year is projected to be $6.26-$6.31 billion compared with the previous projection of $6.2-$6.3 billion. The company continues to anticipate capital expenditures of $165-$185 million. Signet also provided fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 guidance. The company anticipates adjusted earnings per share of $4.35-$4.59. Sales are projected to be $2.17-$2.22 billion. Further, gross margin rate and SG&A expenses are expected to increase year over year in the quarter. Earlier in March 2018, the company announced its three-year Path to Brilliance transformation plan. In this regard, Signet continues to anticipate cost savings of $85-$100 million during fiscal 2019 with additional cost savings of $115-$125 million by the end of the three-year program. Additionally, the company continues to project cost savings from this program to be $200-$225 million over the next three years. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-signet-sig-down-15-143002295.html |
Why Is John Wiley & Sons (JW.A) Down 6.5% Since Last Earnings Report? | It has been about a month since the last earnings report for John Wiley & Sons (JW.A). Shares have lost about 6.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. John Wiley & Sons Q2 Earnings & Revenues Decline Y/Y John Wiley & Sons came out with second-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both top and bottom lines deteriorated year over year and also fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second straight time. The company reiterated its previously issued drab earnings outlook for fiscal 2019. Continued softness in Publishing revenues and costs related to increased growth investments remained deterrents for the company in the second quarter. Moreover, revenues, operating income and the bottom line were somewhat hurt by foreign currency headwinds. Q2 in Detail John Wiley & Sons adjusted earnings of 89 cents per share tumbled 13.6% year over year, and dropped 9% on a constant-currency (cc) basis. Earnings were mainly hit by costs associated with growth investments to enhance performance across Research and Education Services. The bottom line also came a penny below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, which marked the companys second consecutive miss after seven straight quarterly beats. Revenues of $448.6 million dipped close to 1% year over year (up 1% on a cc basis). Further, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $453 million. Results were hurt by persistent weakness at the Publishing division, while Solutions segment continued with its robust show. Meanwhile, sales at the Research segment remained flat. Adjusted operating income came in at $67.5 million compared with $79.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income plunged 10% at cc. The downside primarily stemmed from increased investments in growth efforts. Adjusted operating margin contracted 260 basis points to 15%. Segmental Details Research revenues remained flat year over year, while it rose 3% at cc. Results were fueled by double-digit improvements in Open Access and Atypon Publishing Technology Services. Journal subscriptions remained flat at cc. The segments adjusted contribution to profit declined 7% at cc on account of greater society publishing royalties and growth investments. Publishing revenues dropped 5% on a reported basis and 3% at cc, due to soft performance by Educational Publishing, STM and Professional Publishing. This was somewhat compensated by growth in WileyPLUS and Test Preparation. Adjusted contribution to profit dipped 2% at cc, owing to soft revenues. The company posted an 8% increase in Solutions revenues, which jumped 9% at cc. The upside was backed by robust performance by Professional Assessment and Corporate Learning. Performance of Education Services was fueled by same-school growth, though it was countered by termination of various underperforming contracts. Solutions segments adjusted contribution to overall profit jumped 22% at cc, courtesy of improved revenues and efficiency. This was partly negated by growth investments. Other Financial Update The company used $121.1 million of cash from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2019. Further, the company used free cash flow (net of Product Development Spending) of $163.5 million. Capital expenditures (including Technology, Property, and Equipment and Product development spending) were $42 million. In fiscal 2019, capital expenditures are expected to be lower than $150.7 million incurred in fiscal 2018. Management expects cash provided by operations to decline in high-single digits from the year-ago level of $381.8 million. John Wiley & Sons raised its quarterly dividend to 33 cents in June. During the first half, the company bought back shares worth roughly $25 million and paid $38 million as dividends. Other Developments & Guidance Wiley acquired The Learning House on Nov 1, which is set to solidify the companys position in the fast-growing education services market, worth nearly $10 billion. Further, management expects to gain from its solid university partners, new research publishing ventures and focus on expanding in growth areas. The companys focus on enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs also bode well. Management reiterated its earnings and sales guidance for fiscal 2019. Revenues are expected to be flat year over year at $1796.1 million. A low-single-digit rise in Research and Solutions revenues is anticipated to be countered by a low-single-digit fall in Publishing revenues. Adjusted earnings (at cc) are anticipated to decline in mid-single digits from $3.43 in the previous fiscal, owing to escalated investments in revenue enhancement efforts, mainly in Research and Education Services. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 earnings and revenues is pegged at $3.07 and $1.8 billion, respectively. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-john-wiley-sons-jw-143002234.html |
Why Is G-III Apparel (GIII) Down 17% Since Last Earnings Report? | A month has gone by since the last earnings report for G-III Apparel Group (GIII). Shares have lost about 17% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. G-III Apparel Tops Q3 Earnings, Lags Sales Estimates G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. posted third-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein the top and the bottom line improved year on year. Also, earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This marks the companys seventh straight bottom-line beat. The quarterly results were backed by sturdy performance of the wholesale business. Further, management raised view for fiscal 2019. However, the companys retail segment was unimpressive in the quarter, due to sales declines across major stores and lower store count. Results in Detail Adjusted earnings came in at $1.88 per share, which surpassed the consensus mark of $1.82. The bottom line improved 12.6% from the year-ago quarters figure of $1.67. Further, net sales of $1,073 million grew 4.7% year over year. Sales mainly benefited from stellar show in the wholesale operations, which gained from impressive brand performances. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1079 million. Moving on, gross profit declined 2.3% to reach $382.1 million. Further, gross margin of 35.6% contracted 260 basis points (bps), due to dismal gross margins in the retail and wholesale segments. In the quarter under review, SG&A expenses declined 4.4% to nearly $232 million. The improvement was primarily driven by the adoption of a new revenue standard. Further, operating profit amounted to $140 million, marking a 0.1% decline from the prior-years figure. Segment Performances Net sales in the wholesale segment came in at $1.01 billion, up almost 4%. The Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY brands were primary growth drivers. However, bankruptcy of Bon-Ton stores negatively impacted the performance of Calvin Klein brand. Retail segment net sales came in at $111 million, down 7% from the prior-year quarters figure. The segment witnessed sales decline across Wilsons and G.H. Bass stores, partially offset by higher sales in DKNY stores. Decline in the number of stores operated by the company also weighed upon the segments performance. Other Financial Details GIII-Apparel exited the third quarter of fiscal 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $66.1 million and long-term debt of $694.3 million. Total stockholders equity came in at $1,181 million. Guidance & Management Plans Led by sturdy results in the third quarter, management raised view for fiscal 2019. The company now expects net sales close to $3.08 billion compared with the previous view of approximately $3.06 billion. Also, management expects earnings in the range of $2.67-$2.77 per share compared with the prior projection of $2.52-$2.62. The bottom line estimate excludes imputed interest expense related with the Donna Karan International acquisition. Management is optimistic about the momentum in the wholesale businesses. We expect this unit to continue performing well in the upcoming quarters. Additionally, to improve retail business, the company is reviewing growth opportunities and focusing on minimizing losses. It is also on track with rationalizing retail store portfolio. In this respect, the company has already shuttered 71 stores of its targeted 105 closures. Apart from these, GIII-Apparel is on track with bolstering brands across channels. Fresh estimates followed an upward path over the past two months. The consensus estimate has shifted 22.53% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, G-III Apparel has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with a B. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook G-III Apparel has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report G-III Apparel Group, LTD. (GIII) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-g-iii-apparel-giii-143002531.html |
Why Is Patterson Cos. (PDCO) Down 11% Since Last Earnings Report? | Patterson Cos. (PDCO) reported earnings 30 days ago. We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Patterson Cos. (PDCO). Shares have lost about 11% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Patterson Companies Q2 Earnings Beat, Animal Health Up Patterson Companies reported adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents. Earnings however fell 23.5% year over year. Net sales in the quarter were $1.40 billion, up 1.4% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a slight 0.01%. Segmental Analysis The company currently distributes products through subsidiaries Patterson Dental and Patterson Animal Health. Dental Segment This segment provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment, software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists as well as laboratories throughout North America. In the second quarter, dental sales (39% of total sales) declined 2% year over year to approximately $542.5 million. Dental Consumable Sales in the sub-segment were $303.8 million, down 2.4% year over year. Dental Equipment & Software Sales in the segment fell 1.1% on a year-over-year basis to $167.7 million. Other This segment comprises technical service, parts and labor, software support services as well as office supplies. Sales in the segment declined 2.6% on a year-over-year basis to $71 million. Animal Health Segment This segment is a leading distributor of veterinary supplies to clinics, public and private institutions and shelters across the United States. Coming to the second-quarter performance of the platform (61% of total sales), sales increased almost 3.9% on a year-over-year basis to $855.4 million. Corporate Sales at the segment were $6.83 million, down 19.9% year over year. Gross Margin Analysis Gross profit in the reported quarter was $295.1 million, down 6.5% year over year. As a percentage of revenues, gross margin contracted 180 basis points (bps) to 21% in the second quarter. Operating expenses in the reported quarter totaled $253.9 million, up 4% on a year-over-year basis. Guidance For fiscal 2019, Patterson Companies has retained its guidance. Notably, earnings per share are expected in the range of $1.40 to $1.50. In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. VGM Scores At this time, Patterson Cos. has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with a B. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. Notably, Patterson Cos. has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Patterson Companies, Inc. (PDCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-patterson-cos-pdco-down-143002658.html |
Why Is Cooper Cos. (COO) Down 11.1% Since Last Earnings Report? | Cooper Cos. (COO) reported earnings 30 days ago. We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Cooper Cos. (COO). Shares have lost about 11.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Cooper Companies Q4 Earnings Miss, Gains From Core CVI Cooper Companies reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings of $2.87 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3%. However, earnings increased 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. The company reported revenues worth $651.5 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $645.8 million. On a year-over-year basis, revenues improved 16%. Q4 Segment Details CVI This segment garnered revenues worth $480.6 million, up 10% on a pro forma basis and 9% year over year. Per management, the segment saw a noticeable uptick in the daily silicone hydrogel lenses, showing pro forma growth of 50% driven by accelerating growth in both Clariti and MyDay. Toric (31% of CVI) revenues totaled $149.2 million, up 11% on a pro forma basis and 10% year over year. Multifocal (10%) generated revenues worth $47.8 million, up 7% at pro forma and 6% year over year. Single-use sphere (29%) posted revenues worth $141.7 million, which shot up 21% at pro forma and 19% from a year ago. Non single-use sphere (30%) revenues came in at $141.9 million, up 2% at pro forma and 2% from a year ago. Geographically, the segment saw an improvement in U.S. revenues (39%), up 8% at pro forma and 8% year over year to $185.8 million. EMEA revenues (38%) were $183.8 million, up 9% at pro forma and 6% from the prior-year quarter. Per management, overseas growth was driven by clariti and MyDay strength and strong results from Biofinity and Avaira Vitality. Asia Pacific sales (23%) rose 19% at pro forma and 19% year over year to $111 million. Per management, APAC posted strong results buoyed by Clariti along with strength in MyDay and Biofinity. CSI This segment posted revenues of $170.9 million, up 5% at pro forma and 40% year over year. Per management, growth was led by a 20% rise in PARAGARD. Sub-segment Office and Surgical products (64% of CSI) accounted for $110 million, up 12% at pro forma and a whopping 97% on a year-over-year basis. Fertility (36%) posted sales worth $60.9 million, down 9% year over year and 6% at pro forma. Margin Analysis In the fiscal fourth quarter, gross profit totaled $430 million, up 21.7% year over year. Per management, adjusted gross margin was 66%, flat with the year-ago quarter level. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted gross margin at the CSI segment was 73%, up from 60% a year ago. Per management, the upside was driven by the addition of PARAGARD and improvement in product mix. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted gross margin at the CVI segment was 64% compared with 68% in the year-ago quarter. Operating income in the quarter totaled $122.7 million, up 13.1% year over year. Adjusted operating margin was 24.3%, up 180 bps from the prior-year quarter. Per management adjusted operating margin was 27%, flat year over year. Financial Condition Cooper Companies exited the fiscal fourth quarter with free cash flow of $193.2 million, up 16% year over year. The companys debt fell to $2.02 billion primarily due to paydown with operational cash flow generation. FY19 Guidance Cooper Companies expects fiscal 2019 revenues within $2,600-$2,660 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.67 billion, above the projected range. Notably, revenues from CVI are expected between $1,940 million and $1,980 million, while the same from CSI are anticipated within $660-$680 million. The company also expects adjusted earnings per share between $11.30 and $11.70. Fresh estimates followed a downward path over the past two months. The consensus estimate has shifted -7.81% due to these changes. VGM Scores At this time, Cooper Cos. has a great Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-cooper-cos-coo-down-143002309.html |
Why Is Michaels (MIK) Down 8.1% Since Last Earnings Report? | A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Michaels (MIK). Shares have lost about 8.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Michaels Companies Tops Q3 Earnings & Sales, Ups View Michaels Companies delivered strong third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein top and bottom lines beat estimates and improved year over year. This marked the companys third consecutive earnings beat while sales topped estimates in three of the last four quarters. Further, the company raised its sales and comparable store sales (comps) forecasts and tightened its earnings guidance for fiscal 2018. It also outlined its view for the fiscal fourth quarter. Q3 Numbers Michaels Companies adjusted earnings of 48 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44 cents and improved 9.1% from the prior-year quarter. The increase was driven by solid comps growth, efficient expense management and the impact of the ongoing share repurchase program. Net sales of this arts and crafts specialty retailer increased 2.7% year over year to $1,274.1 million. The top line also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,255. This increase was backed by comps growth and operation of 19 additional Michaels stores (net of closures), partly negated by the closure of all 94 full-size Aaron Brothers stores in the fiscal first quarter. Excluding the impact of Aaron Brothers, sales improved 5%. Comps improved 3.8% in the fiscal third quarter, with 4.3% growth on a constant-currency basis. The upside was driven by rise in average ticket, partially offset by a marginal decline in customer transactions. Further, comps gained from improved in-stock merchandise, marketing support, and focus on value and key items. Adjusting for the calendar shift, comps were up 1.1%. Gross profit declined 1.1% year over year to $479 million while gross margin contracted 140 basis points (bps) to 37.6%. The contraction in gross margin was due to rise in distribution-related costs and higher inventory reserves. This was partly offset by occupancy leverage and benefits of the ongoing sourcing endeavors. SG&A expenses, including pre-opening costs, increased 3.5% to $341.8 million owing to higher performance-based compensation, increased marketing and payroll-related expenses. This was offset by the decline in expenses related to the closing of Aaron Brothers stores in the fiscal first quarter. Backed by gross margin contraction and higher SG&A expenses, adjusted operating income dropped 8.2% to $141.3 million. Operating margin was 11.1%, down 130 bps from the year-ago quarter. Stores Update During the fiscal third quarter, the company inaugurated six new Michaels stores, alongside closing one and relocating four Michaels outlets. As of Nov 3, 2018, Michaels Companies operated 1,256 Michaels stores and 36 Pat Catans stores. In the fiscal fourth quarter, the company plans to open two Michaels stores (net of closures) and relocate one Michaels store. For fiscal 2018, the company estimates opening 20 new Michaels outlets (net of closures) and relocating 21 Michaels shops. Financial Position Michaels Companies had cash and cash equivalents of $102.7 million, long-term debt of $2,690.3 million, and total stockholders deficit of $1,789.9 million as of Nov 3, 2018. Total debt at the quarter end was $2,930.6 million. As of Nov 3, total merchandise inventory rose 2.6% to $1,440.9 million. Management incurred capital expenditure of $119.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2018, mainly related to investments in technology projects, comprising funds to support the in-sourcing of e-commerce fulfillment, and resources pumped into new and relocated outlets. For fiscal 2018, the company expects to incur capital expenditure of $160 million. Guidance Michaels Companies remains concerned about the challenges facing the Arts and Crafts channel due to stagnant growth and increased distribution points. However, it expects the momentum witnessed in the fiscal third quarter to continue in the fourth quarter. Consequently, the company provided an upbeat outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter. Management expects comps for the fiscal fourth quarter between negative 0.5% and positive 0.5%. Adjusted operating income is estimated to be $332-$342 million. Interest expenses are likely to be about $38 million, with an effective tax rate of 23%. Earnings are envisioned to be $1.42-$1.47 per share. Based on year-to-date results and outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter, the company raised its sales and comps view for fiscal 2018, and tightened its earnings forecast. It now expects net sales of $5,261-$5,278 million in fiscal 2018, marking an increase from $5,217-$5,293 million mentioned previously. Comps are now estimated to increase 0.7-1.1% compared with comps of flat to up 1.5% expected earlier. Adjusted operating income is projected to be $670-$680 million versus $677-$700 million stated earlier. Interest expenses continue to be estimated at $144 million, with effective tax rate of nearly 23%. Earnings per share for the fiscal are now anticipated to be $2.35-$2.39, up from the companys previous view of $2.29-$2.42. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-michaels-mik-down-8-143002061.html |
Why Is The Children's Place (PLCE) Down 18.5% Since Last Earnings Report? | A month has gone by since the last earnings report for The Children's Place (PLCE). Shares have lost about 18.5% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Children's Place Lags Q3 Earnings, Cuts View The Childrens Place, Inc. reported third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but sales surpassed the same. That said, the companys top and bottom lines both increased on a year-over-year basis, courtesy of surging demand in its digital channels. Despite the improvement, it trimmed its fiscal 2018 earnings and margin guidance. Lets Delve Deeper The company reported adjusted earnings of $3.07 a share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.08 but came at the higher end of its guided range of $2.97-$3.07. However, the bottom line increased 19% during the quarter under review, following a decline of 18.6% in the fiscal second quarter. This year-over-year improvement can be attributed to higher digital sales, partly offset by lower margins owing to increased focus on e-commerce penetration. The company generated net sales of $522.5 million, which increased 6.6% year over year and also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $502 million. Its net sales topped the consensus mark in the fiscal second quarter as well. The increase in net sales in the fiscal third quarter was due to comparable retail sales increase of 9.5% and new revenue recognition rules. The positives were partly offset by about $14 million impact from the calendar shift related to the 53rd week in fiscal 2017. U.S. and Canada comparable retail sales increased 10.6% and 1.6%, respectively, owing to strength in traffic trends, transactions and conversion. E-commerce, which represented 29% of total net sales, surged 38% during the quarter. Adjusted gross profit edged up about 1% to $204.4 million, whereas gross margin contracted 220 basis points (bps) to 39.1% due to increased e-commerce penetration. Adjusted operating income came in at $65.5 million, down 4.2% from $68.4 million a year ago, while operating margin contracted 150 bps year over year to 12.5%. Adjusted SG&A expenses increased 4% from a year ago to $122 million. However, as a percentage of net sales, the same improved 60 bps on a year-over-year basis. The improvement in SG&A expenses was due to fixed cost leverage on stronger comparable retail sales and lower incentive compensation expenses. Store Update As a part of store fleet optimization endeavors, the company shuttered four stores and did not open any outlet, thereby ending the quarter with 988 stores. Since the announcement of the fleet optimization plan in 2013, the company has shuttered 195 outlets. The companys international franchise partners opened 21 net new points of distribution through fiscal 2018, ending the quarter with 211 international points of distribution open that are operated by its eight franchise partners in 20 countries. Other Financial Details Children's Place ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $93 million compared with $257.7 million a year ago. The company exited the quarter with inventories of $376.9 million and shareholders equity of $343.5 million. It has a revolving loan of $65 million. During the quarter, the company bought back 192.2 thousand shares for roughly $26 million and paid a quarterly dividend of approximately $8 million. At the end of the quarter, the company still has approximately $281 million remaining under its existing share repurchase program. Management incurred capital expenditures of approximately $28 million during the quarter and expects the same to be in the range of $70-$75 million for the fiscal year. Guidance Slashed Management now anticipates adjusted earnings in the band of $7.69-$7.79 per share for fiscal 2018, down from the prior guided range of $8.09-$8.29 and compared with earnings of $7.91 reported in fiscal 2017. The guidance includes about $30 million costs related to the companys accelerated digital spending. Children's Place now envisions total net sales in the range of $1.955-$1.960 billion compared with $1.945-$1.955 billion projected earlier. The company forecasts mid-single digit growth in comparable retail sales. Meanwhile, it has slashed adjusted operating margin guidance to 7.7-7.8% from the prior guided range of 8.5-8.7%. The tepid outlook takes into account higher fulfillment expenses to support stronger demand in digital channels and shipping costs due to a shift from store to online during the fiscal fourth quarter. Management expects digital penetration to increase to 27% of net sales from 23%. The company now envisions fourth quarter net sales in the range of $547-$552 million. The company projects fourth-quarter earnings between $2.07 and $2.17 per share, down from $2.52 recorded in the prior-year period. Management now expects low-single digit increase in comparable retail sales versus prior expectation of mid-single digit growth. Adjusted operating margin is now expected in the range of 8.1-8.4% for the final quarter. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-childrens-place-plce-down-143002742.html |
Why Is Ulta (ULTA) Down 12.9% Since Last Earnings Report? | It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Ulta Beauty (ULTA). Shares have lost about 12.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. Ulta Beauty Q3 Earnings Beat, Sales Meet Estimates Ulta Beauty reported third-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein earnings outpaced estimates while revenues met the same. Further, the top and the bottom lines improved year over year. Management also issued guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter, which was below analysts' expectations. Nevertheless, it reaffirmed fiscal 2018 outlook. Quarterly results were driven by the companys retail business, solid store-expansion efforts, gains from the adoption of revenue standard, higher market share gains, and sturdy e-commerce sales and salon operations. Q3 Numbers Ulta Beautys earnings were $2.18 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a couple of cents. Further, the bottom line improved 28.2% year over year. Net sales of this cosmetics retailer grew 16.2% year over year to $1,560 million but came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. We note that Ulta Beauty adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on Feb 4, 2018. The adoption of this revenue standard contributed nearly $10.5 million to the top line in the reported quarter. Comparable sales (comps), including stores and e-commerce, climbed 7.8% compared with 10.3% growth in the prior-year quarter. Increase in traffic and ticket, along with higher store productivity, led to comps growth. During the fiscal third quarter, the company registered a transaction increase of 5.3% while average ticket was up 2.5%. Retail business (comprising retail and salon) witnessed comps growth of 4.4%, including 3.5% improvement in salon comps. Sales for the salon business rose 10.7% to $74 million. Further, e-commerce sales soared 42.5% to $170.7 million, reflecting about 340 basis points (bps) of total comps growth. Gross profit increased 16.1% year over year to $572.3 million. However, gross margin remained flat at 36.7% as category and channel mix shifts along with investments in salon services and supply chain were completely offset by the impact from revenue recognition accounting and leverage in fixed store expenses. Including the effects from the adoption of the revenue standard, gross margin expanded 50 bps. While operating income was up 4% year over year to $169.2 million, operating margin declined 130 bps to 10.8%. This contraction was due to rise of 140 bps in SG&A expenses (as a percentage of sales), somewhat mitigated with lower pre-opening expenses, which decreased 21.6% to $7.6 million. Other Financials Ulta Beauty ended the quarter under review with cash and cash equivalents of $296.9 million, and total stockholders equity of $1,835.7 million. Merchandise inventories summed $1,484.6 million as of Nov 3, 2018, marking a 10% increase from the year-ago period. However, average inventory per store remained flat year over year. Net cash provided by operating activities came in at roughly $542.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2018. In the fiscal third quarter, management bought back 451,424 shares for $119 million. Year to date, it has repurchased 1,582,118 shares worth $379.4 million. With this, the company had nearly $282.8 million outstanding as of Nov 3, 2018, under its $625-million share repurchase plan announced in March this year. Store Updates In the fiscal third quarter, Ulta Beauty opened 42 stores while shuttered three. As of Nov 3, 2018, the company operated 1,163 stores, increasing its total square footage by 9.7% year over year. Moving ahead, the company still plans to launch 100 stores and remodel or relocate 15 outlets in fiscal 2018. Guidance Following the impressive quarterly results, management provided guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter and reiterated the same for fiscal 2018. Net sales are projected to be $2,085-$2,103 million compared with $1,937.6 million registered in the prior-year quarter, which has a 53rd week. Comps, including e-commerce sales, are predicted to grow 7-8% compared with 8.8% rise in fourth-quarter fiscal 2017. Earnings per share for the ongoing quarter are envisioned to be $3.50-$3.55 compared with $3.40 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, which included an impact of 14 cents from the 53rd week. For fiscal 2018, the company still expects total sales to grow in low teens percentage, with comps growth of 7-8%. Further, the company continues anticipating e-commerce sales rise in the 40% range. However, operating margin is still projected to decline by 50-70 bps. Further, management continues to expect earnings per share to increase in the low 20% percentage range. The forecast includes nearly $500-million impact from share repurchases and estimates an effective tax rate of 24% for fiscal 2018. Ulta Beauty still plans to spend about $375 million in fiscal 2018 compared with $441 million capital expenditure incurred last year. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-ulta-ulta-down-12-143002052.html |
What happens when someone loses disability insurance? | Megan Willis lives with cystic fibrosis, a deadly disease that causes extensive lung damage. The 22-year-old said she spends around six hours a day administering medications and therapy, and that the disease frequently causes infections and other complications. With the condition, Willis qualified as a disabled adult for Social Security benefits on living expenses. About 10 million other Americans too disabled for work also get the stipend, called Disability Insurance. More importantly, having Social Security gave Willis access to Medicaid, which paid her annual health care costs of over $100,000. But in March, Social Security sent her a letter saying her health had improved since the last review of her case and that she was able to work. This was news to Willis. "My health has only gotten worse in the past year," Willis told CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. Despite that, her Social Security benefits were terminated and she lost Medicaid. Since she lives in Florida, one of 14 states without expanded Medicaid, she had no other way to get it. Her family can't afford private insurance. While the medical bills mounted, she began law school. "I don't want to just stay stagnant and you know, depressed, looking at the four walls of my room," Willis said. "I want to move up in the world even if you know it's going to be hard." Willis also contacted attorney Beth Sufian, who runs the Cystic Fibrosis Legal Hotline and has cystic fibrosis herself. Sufian said, "We've seen us five times increase in the number of people with cystic fibrosis that have been reviewed in the past 18 months. And we think that Social Security is targeting young people with chronic illness in an effort to reduce the number of people getting benefits." By law, disability claims are periodically reviewed to see if recipients are still eligible for benefits. Over the last decade, to combat a backlog, full medical reviews quadrupled to an expected 900,000 this year. "It really is a life or death situation for all of our clients when they lose their benefits," Sufian said. In Willis' case, Social Security ultimately reconsidered and she was able to get back on disability in November. She was hospitalized around Thanksgiving, and Medicaid kicked in and the bills were covered, her mother Wendy said. But Willis's lawyer still has about 200 pending cases of people with cystic fibrosis who are first getting reviewed and those who are appealing. | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-happens-when-someone-loses-disability-insurance/ |
Is there an optimal diet for everyone? | Nutrition experts have long debated whether there is an optimal diet that humans evolved to eat. But a new study found that there is most likely no one natural diet that is best for human health. The research, published in the journal Obesity Reviews, viewed the diets, habits and physical activities of modern hunter-gatherer groups and small societies whose lifestyles are similar to those of ancient populations. They found that they all exhibit generally excellent metabolic health while consuming a wide range of diets. Some get as much as 80 percent of their calories from carbohydrates. Others eat mostly meat. But there were some broad strokes: Almost all of them eat a mix of meat, fish and plants, consuming foods that are generally packed with nutrients. In general, they eat a lot more fiber than the average American. Most of their carbohydrates come from vegetables and starchy plants with a low glycemic index. But it is also not uncommon for hunter-gatherers to eat sugar, consumed primarily in the form of honey. The findings suggest that there is no one true diet for humans, who can be very healthy on a wide range of diets, said the lead author of the study, Herman Pontzer, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. We know that because we see a wide range of diets in these very healthy populations. One thing hunter-gatherer populations have in common is a very high level of physical activity. Many walk between 5 and 10 miles a day. Yet they do not have higher energy expenditure levels than the average U.S. office worker. That suggests that health authorities should consider recommending exercise primarily as a way to improve metabolic health, but not necessarily as a calorie-burning antidote to obesity, the authors said. From a public health perspective, modern hunter-gatherers may be most remarkable for their relative lack of chronic diseases like heart disease, hypertension and cancer. Obesity rates are low. They have very high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, even in old age. And Type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction are hardly ever seen. The Hadza tribe of Tanzania live by subsistence hunting and foraging for berries, honey, baobab fruit and tubers. But life in hunter-gatherer societies is not easy. Infant mortality rates are high because of infectious disease. Deaths from accidents, gastrointestinal illness and acute infections are common. Those who survive to adulthood often reach old age relatively free from degenerative diseases that are the norm in industrialized nations. They are typically fit and active until the end, suggesting that there is something about their way of life that allows them to age healthfully. Few of us would want to trade places with them. Their lives are still tough, Pontzer said. But the things they get sick from are things we know how to deal with, and the things they dont get sick from are the things we struggle to deal with. Michael Gurven, an anthropologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has researched the Tsimane, a Bolivian population that lives a subsistence lifestyle of hunting, gathering, fishing and farming. The Tsimane get most of their calories from complex carbohydrates high in fiber like plantain, corn, cassava, rice and bananas, supplemented with wild game and fish. Gurven has published detailed studies showing that they have exceptional cardiovascular health and almost no diabetes. Yet Gurven has seen several cases of Tsimane people developing and dying from Type 2 diabetes after leaving their villages and moving to the nearby town of San Borja, where they took sedentary office jobs and gave up their traditional diet. They changed from their traditional diet to eating in town where everything is fried, he said. Some of these folks can see a pretty rapid change in health. For the new study, Pontzer and his colleagues analyzed data on hunter-gatherers and other small-scale societies across the globe, from South America to Africa and Australia. They looked at detailed dietary assessments of fossil and archaeological records to get a sense of what early humans ate. And they included new data collected from the Hadza, a community of people who spend their days hunting and foraging in northern Tanzania, much as their ancestors have for tens of thousands of years. The Hadza consume what some call the oldest diet. The amount of daily calories that the Hadza consume is similar to that of the average American. But they rely on a fairly small number of foods. And notably they do not have potato chips, candy and other processed foods that combine large amounts of fat and simple carbs foods that are engineered to be irresistible even when we are not hungry. The lack of novelty and variety in hunter-gatherer diets may be part of the reason they do not overeat and become obese. Studies show, for example, that the greater the variety of food choices in front of us, the longer it takes to feel full, a phenomenon known as sensory specific satiety. Its the reason you always have room for dessert at a restaurant, Pontzer said. Even though youve had a savory meal and you cant eat one more bite of steak, youre still interested in the cheesecake because its sweet and that button hasnt been worn out in your brain yet. | http://www.startribune.com/is-there-an-optimal-diet-for-everyone/503861262/ |
Is Advanced Micro Devices a Buy? | Though the last few months have been rough going, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) stock ended 2018 sporting a nearly 80% gain. Share prices are off their highs reached during the fall, though, as the company's sales momentum has slowed and a broader stock market sell-off has taken its toll. Though the chipmaker is still forecasting growth ahead, investors should use caution here. 2018 momentum is fading... for now AMD's big gains last year are easy to explain: New demand for the company's products for video gaming, personal computers, laptops, and data centers led to much higher sales compared to a year ago. Metric 9 Months Ended September 29, 2018 9 Months Ended September 30, 2017 YOY Change Revenue $5.06 billion $3.91 billion 29% Gross margin 37.8% 34.1% 3.7 p.p. Operating income $423 million $129 million 228% Adjusted EBITDA $651 million $310 million 110% YOY=year over year. P.p.=percentage point. EBITDA=earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. Data source: Advanced Micro Devices. Sales and profit increases led to the stock's meteoric rise, but third-quarter results indicated a slowdown for AMD. Sales were up only 4% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA was up 23%. That's nothing to balk at, but nevertheless was much slower than the previous few quarters' results. Management sees sales increasing 8% year over year in the fourth quarter, and gross margins rising to 41%. The cooldown is in keeping with an overall slowdown in momentum for semiconductor companies that occurred in 2018. It all started with memory chips, an especially up-and-down concern, but other chipmakers got hit, too. AMD was no exception, as was the case for its peer NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), which took an especially hard tumble as demand for graphics chips related to the cryptocurrency boom last year wore off. That's a headwind that AMD has acknowledged is weighing on results right now, too, and could persist for a couple more quarters. An artist's illustration of digital data getting shared via the internet around the globe. More Image source: Getty Images. A big pullback, but still not cheap Despite a steep drop the last few months from its high point, AMD still isn't a cheap stock. Trailing price to earnings is at 56.9, and one-year forward price to earnings is 30.5 -- supporting Wall Street's expectations that bottom-line profits will continue to improve in the immediate future. Even with the more modest sales growth outlook from management, AMD could certainly pull off another big year of bottom-line increases if its profit margins keep rising as anticipated. Nevertheless, headwinds are mounting for the chip sector, and AMD is priced at a premium to its immediate competition. After getting beat up after its last quarterly report, NVIDIA is trading at only 17.1 and 17.8 times one-year trailing and one-year forward price to earnings, respectively, versus AMD trading at 55.2 and 27.5 trailing and forward earnings, respectively. If AMD experiences a similar slowdown -- or even a slight contraction -- in chip sales, shares could shed even more value. However, it's hard not to be enamored with the semiconductor industry in general. The digital revolution is lifting demand for chips across many industries, providing a secular tailwind for the entire sector. However, with near-term weakness in graphics cards and AMD priced at a premium, the stock isn't a slam-dunk buy. Shares could fall further before a rebound gets underway, so investors should use caution at this point. More From The Motley Fool Nicholas Rossolillo and his clients own shares of Nvidia. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/advanced-micro-devices-buy-173400171.html |
Will JPMorgan Chase Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | 2018 was a disappointing year for banking giant JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM). Shares of the New York-based company sagged by about 9%, and despite seeing solid fundamentals throughout much of the year that resulted in solid growth in deposits, loans, and credit card revenue, shareholders became nervous late in 2018 that the recent rise in interest rates would come to an end, bringing with it potential contraction in the interest income growth that the banking giant has seen over time. Dividend investors have long looked to JPMorgan Chase for income, and the bank has been diligent in paving the way forward. Shareholders got a huge dividend increase in 2018 and they'd enjoy seeing even larger quarterly payments in 2019 and beyond. Let's look more closely to see whether JPMorgan Chase investors can bank on higher dividends in the coming year. Dividend stats on JPMorgan Chase Current Quarterly Dividend Per Share $0.80 Current Yield 3.3% Number of Consecutive Years With Dividend Increases 8 years Payout Ratio 40% Last Increase October 2018 Source: Yahoo! Finance. Last increase refers to ex-dividend date. Hitting new highs in dividends JPMorgan Chase has seen its dividend fully recover from its challenges during the financial crisis. The bank has historically been able to offer dividend yields that stay within a range of around 2.5% to 4%, but in 2009, it slashed its dividend to the bone, making just a $0.05 per-share quarterly payout in order to comply with the requirements of government bailout guidelines. Even at the time, JPMorgan didn't really want to make that move. It worked to reverse the dividend cut as quickly as possible, and it only took a couple of years before it got permission to quintuple its dividend. By 2014, the bank had restored its full dividend from before the financial crisis. But as you can see below, that wasn't enough to satisfy JPMorgan, which went quite a bit further. JPM Dividend Chart More JPM Dividend data by YCharts. Shareholders had something to celebrate in 2018, as JPMorgan gave investors a 43% boost to their quarterly payouts effective in October. On top of strong business conditions, JPMorgan also benefited from lower corporate tax rates following tax reform in late 2017, and that was a factor in prompting the outsized dividend increase. A lot of investors have focused on the inverting yield curve as a warning sign for JPMorgan and its peers. Yet at least so far, the implied recessionary threat hasn't really materialized, as unemployment remains at levels not seen in decades and overall economic growth has remained steady. That's a favorable environment for JPMorgan, which benefits when consumers have the confidence to spend and the wage growth to invest in bank savings and investment products. | https://news.yahoo.com/jpmorgan-chase-raise-dividend-2019-163800470.html |
Can no ships ferry firm really save Ramsgate? | Flanked by seagulls against a powder-blue sky, a dredger is on day two of its low-rumbling shuffle across Ramsgate harbour. The job of excavating two-and-a-half metres of mud from the port is slow and dull. But the UKs only royal harbour has become the site of fevered debate as it prepares to turn into a second Dover in the event of a no-deal Brexit. With only 11 weeks to go and a 13.8m government contract awarded by transport secretary Chris Grayling to Seaborne Freight, a firm with no track record to run Ramsgates proposed ferry route to Ostend, the pressure is on. It doesnt look like that thing [the dredger] is doing very much, said Margaret Selwood, who was walking her dog along the beach. Selwood, whose late husband worked in maritime, was hopeful that a no-deal Brexit could restore Ramsgate to its former glory. We were a proud town before they just left all this here to rot and its a shame really. I dont think this lot knows what theyre doing but I think its good if it gives us a boost. Seaborne Freight faced scrutiny and ridicule last week when it was revealed that the firm had no ships, no contracts with Ramsgate or Ostend ports in place, and that the terms and conditions on its website were cut and pasted from a takeaway delivery company. Its CEO, Ben Sharp, was previously managing director of Mercator, a chartering company that collapsed in 2014 with debts of 1.8m. It is understood that Seaborne has hired Dutch company Van Oord to prepare the port to accommodate large cross-Channel ferries. A harbour tradesman, who did not want to be named, said: Its a shambles. Everything is so cloak and dagger and mysterious Seaborne have been trying to get hold of this harbour for two or three years now but they have no experience or rep in the industry. Its not just the dredging none of the walkways are safe at the moment, parts of it are condemned. Its a minimum of 12 weeks work. Theres no way it will be up and running in time. The residents of Ramsgate have been lobbying for the redevelopment of its ailing port for more than 18 months. Run by Thanet District Council and incurring estimated losses of 20m since 2010, Ramsgate harbour has not had a cross-Channel service since 2013. The arrival, then, of Seaborne Freight might have been met with more enthusiasm. Youve got to be joking, laughs John Davis, a campaigner. It is a farce. Grayling is pure incompetence. At lunchtime in the Royal Victoria Pavilion, a grand seaside building converted into Britains biggest Wetherspoons, Davis has organised an impromptu meeting of Ramsgate Action Group. Were a bit like a dads army, explained chairman Steve Coombes, who has been railing against Thanet Council and Seaborne Freight for two years. The group is lobbying for Ramsgates harbour to be restored into a commercially owned marina village. Its all a load of hogwash, Seaborne arent equipped to deal with a 14m contract. They havent got a port to piss in Steve Coombes, Ramsgate Action Group Where was the due diligence with the government handing Seaborne this contract? asked Coombes. Its all a load of hogwash, they arent equipped to deal with a 14m contract. They havent got a port to piss in. A DfT spokesperson said: Before any contract was signed, due diligence on Seaborne Freight was carried out both by senior officials at the Department for Transport, and highly reputable independent third-party organisations. Our contractual arrangements clearly reflect Seaborne Freights status as a new ferry operator and as such it is obliged to meet a number of stringent time-staged requirements to demonstrate that it can provide an effective service, with break clauses in the DfTs favour if it fails to meet them. Ramsgate is a deprived town and were not waiting for the government to inject money here, said Stephen Byrne, who moved from London. It has a wonderful history, Van Gogh lived here, Queen Victoria holidayed here, were trying to regenerate the port and harbour as a tourist attraction. In 2016, the Kent town of about 40,000 people voted overwhelmingly for Brexit with 64% of the Thanet constituency voting Leave, based on a 73% turnout one of the highest in the UK. According to Davis, very few locals will have changed their mind: It was never about too much immigration really, he nodded awkwardly. Its about jobs, housing and paying all that money to the EU. Irene, who works in a cafe by the train station, agreed. We just want it over with now, its a joke. But we need to get out and just get on with it. The majority of us voted for it and its only right. Irene would not be pressed on whether she would prefer Britain crashing out with no deal. I think them doing what theyre doing can only be a good thing, because it will be better for businesses here. Ramsgate has been hit hard by a decade of austerity, unemployment is higher than the average for both Kent and the country as a whole. Where neighbouring Margate has enjoyed a resurgence by attracting an artistic community priced out of London, this district of Thanet once had the UKs only Ukip-led council. We voted a Ukip council but not because were Ukip-y, explained Davis. We were fed up but its gotten worse. Were being left behind. | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/05/can-shambles-ferry-firm-seaborne-freight-save-ramsgate |
What Is The Power Of One Customer? | At face value, the power of one customer seems rather insignificant. After all, one customer making a single transaction certainly will not make the difference between the success and failure of a small business. The success factor One transaction with a company, regardless of the monetary size, rarely means success for the business. Of course, it can if the transaction is a once-in-a-lifetime event for a business, which is normally quite out of the ordinary. So, in the everyday course of business, one transaction or sale that stands by itself as an isolated situation will typically not have a profound impact on the annual net profit of the business entity. When a customer is pleased, however, with the outcome of a business transaction, that same customer will repeat his or her buying experience. Whether the transaction was personal or business, the importance is having the event repeated, not just a second time, but time and time again over a period of years. Repeat customers and repeat sales are basically a business annuity. Month in and month out, year in and year out, a continuous stream of money flows into the business from the same customers. Little effort and little marketing is required as long as these customers continue to be satisfied. Fortunately for the business, the positive effect of this repeated purchase cycle does not start and stop with the original purchase. The purchase experience, hopefully, leads to casual word-of-mouth comments, direct referrals, or online testimonials and reviews. Regardless of the action, the end result remains the same: new customers, more sales, continued business annuity, and additional satisfied customers who continue to promote the business without effort or cost to the business. This is the perfect situation for any business. Other Articles From AllBusiness.com: The failure factor The opposite of success, of course, is failure. The best scenario for a business is when one satisfied customer produces an untold amount of revenue for a business through actual sales and positive comments and referrals. Dissatisfied customers, however, do the exact opposite. They no longer support the business through sales, or bolster the business with positive comments, referrals, or reviews. A dissatisfied customer just goes away and never brings in more revenue to the business. The business annuity stops, and whatever personal effort or marketing costs that were invested in that one dissatisfied customer is also lostlabor and money out and no new money flowing in. Unfortunately for many businesses, they never know why they lost the customer. They just know they lost a money-paying customer to a competitor. The actions of a dissatisfied customer, nevertheless, does not end with a competitive business gaining a new customer. In addition to lost revenue from one dissatisfied customer, revenue can very likely be lost from other current customers hearing negative comments or prospective customers hearing negative comments that cause them to seek products or services from another company. Although bad internet reviews can be a disaster for any business, dissatisfied customers do not have to post negative online reviews to damage the future revenue of a business. The act of not repeating a sales transaction and making casual negative comments to personal and business acquaintances alone can be damaging to any business. The power of one So, the power of one customer can be staggering. One customer in and of itself will most likely not be the deciding factor between success and failure of your business, but the compound effect, both in positive or negative terms over a period of months and years, can definitely have a profound effect on the long-term profit and, potentially, the viability of your company. All businesses should have a mission that every employee understands. The mission does not necessarily have to be in the form of a written mission statement prominently displayed somewhere in the business; however, this would certainly keep employees constantly aware of what your business is trying to accomplish. Regardless of business size, type, or industry, just think what the following missions could do for any business: To become highly successful by pleasing one customer at a time To exceed customer expectations by providing the best products and service To produce a customer experience that never disappoints The goal is not to have one transaction with a customer; the goal is to create customers for life. And this is the real power of one customer. RELATED: How to Benefit From Customer Complaints This article was originally published on AllBusiness.com. Read all of Richard Weinbergers articles. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2019/01/05/what-is-the-power-of-one-customer/ |
What Does Warren Buffett Think of Apple's Plunge? | Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares plunged to a 52-week low on Jan. 3, a day after the company dramatically lowered its revenue guidance due to sluggish iPhone demand, especially in China. The tech giant is now expecting to report $84 billion in sales for the recently-ended first quarter of its 2019 fiscal year, down from its previous forecast range of $89 billion to $93 billion. The lagging iPhone sales are a result of a maturing market. People are holding onto their smartphones longer because the changes between models are subtle and often not worth the higher prices. Analysts on Wall Street made their opinions about Apple's guidance update clear with a slew of price target cuts for Apple shares. Considering that Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A)(NYSE: BRK-B) lost about $4 billion on its large Apple stake on Thursday, you'd think he'd have a strong opinion. The Apple iPhone X with water splashing around it. More Apple's iPhone shipments dropped dramatically this past quarter. Image source: Apple. Warren Buffett's take on the rise and fall of iPhone sales While Buffett hasn't spoken out publicly on Apple's disappointing sales update this week, we can take a look back at his past statements on iPhone shipments and Apple's stock to determine what he might be thinking this week. For example, when Buffett was interviewed on CNBC in May 2018, he seemed to shake his head at the stress the iPhone shipment reports caused investors. He said that obsessing over the exact number of iPhones sold in a three-month period isn't a reliable way to measure Apple's performance. People who focus on iPhone shipments are missing the point of the company, according to Buffett. "Nobody buys a farm based on whether or not it's going to rain next year or not," Buffett said. "You buy it because you think it's a good investment over 10 to 20 years." That interview came after there had been a deluge of negative reports on iPhone X demand leading up to Apple's May 2018 earnings report. Yet when Apple reported, it revealed that the iPhone X had been its top-selling iPhone model across the globe for the quarter. Considering that this interview happened less than a year ago, it seems logical that Buffett would give the same advice this week: Don't focus all your attention on Apple's ever-changing iPhone shipments. He wants investors to be thinking of Apple's long-term potential with its "sticky" products and its other revenue streams like its cloud business and App Store sales. If anything, past comments from Buffett point to him possibly buying even more shares of Apple this week. At Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting last May, Buffett told shareholders that he was hoping Apple's share price would drop so he could scoop up more of the company. In fact, during his CNBC interview, Buffett joked that he wished Berkshire owned 100% of Apple. Berkshire first invested in Apple in the first quarter of 2016, buying 9.8 million shares when the stock was trading in the low $100s. Buffett has steadily increased his position in Apple over the past few years. It's now Berkshire's largest position by far at about 250 million shares -- at least as of September 30. That stake is worth more than $37 billion even after the stock's recent plunge. | https://news.yahoo.com/does-warren-buffett-think-apple-191000236.html |
Whats Ahead for Lululemon Stock in 2019? | With an over 50% annual return, lululemon athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) was one of the best-performing stocks on the market in 2018. But if you believe the management team, its gains could just be getting started. The yoga-inspired clothing specialist has set its sights on developing a global sales base well beyond the North American region that it previously focused on. CEO Calvin McDonald and his team are also aiming to expand its offerings into entirely new product categories, and extend the brand with more men's apparel options. These strategies should help propel the company toward its medium-term target of $4 billion of annual revenue by 2020. However, more than a few things will have to go right in 2019 if it's going to hit that goal. A woman holds a yoga pose with a sunset in the background. More Image source: Getty Images. A strong holiday season Lululemon usually announces its fourth quarter results in late March. That report, which covers the key holiday shopping period, will also include management's first detailed outlook for fiscal 2019. Investors have some good reasons to be optimistic about what they'll hear at that time. After all, lululemon's growth pace surpassed expectations in each of the last three quarters, capped by a 21% spike in Q3. The company cited robust customer traffic, both in its physical stores and online, for boosting results in the period. A packed pipeline of product releases helped support those metrics, and should continue to do so. While revenue growth is important -- the top line is expected to jump 20% to $1.1 billion -- analysts will also be keeping a close eye on profitability. Gross margin has been climbing steadily for the last few quarters, and management predicts it will continue rising. Any disappointment on that front would be a major warning flag. Growth initiatives Lululemon's aggressive expansion plans will require it to succeed at more than simply delivering premium apparel products to yoga fans. In the near term, its major growth efforts center around innovations like pop-up seasonal stores, and an aggressive e-commerce push that aims to take its digital sales channels well beyond the 25% of revenues they now provide. Longer term, lululemon is looking to gain a foothold in key overseas markets like China. In parallel, it's moving into new product categories -- and recent successes with new outerwear offerings suggest that this strategy could pay big dividends over time. Looking further out At this point, lululemon's outlook is positive for the coming quarters, but not yet concrete. The company has said it hopes to cross $4 billion in annual sales by 2020, and that goal doesn't look like a stretch given that sales likely exceeded $3.2 billion in 2018. Executives say the profitability expansion, which includes a 7 percentage-point improvement in gross margin since 2015, is just starting, too. In fact, CFO Patrick Guido told investors to look for profit margins to keep rising for at least the next couple of years. Any number of stumbling blocks could get in the way of the retailer reaching its broad targets, including an economic slowdown. Lululemon also remains susceptible to quality control issues, and investors only have to look back a couple of years to see the harm that a failure on that front can inflict on its brand and earnings power. The risks are amplified by the fact that the stock is up sharply, and is priced at a premium relative to more established companies like Nike. Still, nothing in its last few quarterly reports indicates trouble ahead for lululemon. Instead, its recent record of booming online sales volumes, rising profit margins, and successful expansion moves suggest that the coming year will look a lot like 2018 for the business. More From The Motley Fool Demitrios Kalogeropoulos owns shares of Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Lululemon Athletica and Nike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/ahead-lululemon-stock-2019-180000520.html |
Are White Sox offering anyone a ten-year deal or not? | Yesterday morning Jeff Passan, who is now at ESPN, wrote this: The Phillies and White Sox are the other two teams known to be willing to guarantee Harper the decade-plus-long deal he and Machado, each 26 years old, are seeking. Scroll to continue with content Ad Yesterday evening Bruce Levine, of 670 The Score in Chicago, reported this: Reports of the White Sox offering ten plus years for Manny Machado or Bryce Harper are Without any substance and flat out wrong according to high ranking industry sources . Wh Sox will not be giving offer of more than 7 years for either player. Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 2, 2019 Someones got some bad information. No, I have no idea who. There are reasons why someone may embellish a teams willingness to do or not do something and there are reasons for them to deny things that are, in fact true. The entire public-facing part of the hot stove season is an exercise in spin, p.r. and leverage-creation. Never let anyone tell you different. While were on this general subject, lets also remember something about reports of what a team is or is not doing and why. We often hear that so-and-so team cant afford so-and-so player. That may be true and it may not be true, but we have no idea if it is or not because baseball is the only place where people talk putatively intelligently about what teams budgets and financial limitations are with no real knowledge and zero disclosure of what teams actual budgets and financial limitations are. Story continues Every story you see about a team being unable to afford a player is either rank speculation or is sourced to a team saying that, likely for self-serving reasons. We never see teams actual financials and, the luxury tax notwithstanding, we never know how high they can/will go financially. We have just as much insight into the actual bottom line and budget of most teams as we do into the bottom line and budget of a strip mall carpet store. Sure, we can guess fairly intelligently, based on past history, what a team is willing to do the Nationals, generally, will offer a Scott Boras client a big contract, the Rays will not but we have no idea what they are actually able to do. We simply do not know and are never told what the denominator is in their calculations. I think that distinction matters. The willing vs. able thing. Its not just semantics. So much of what is written about the business of baseball, large markets and small markets and so on assumes its all about able and not about willing. Teams want you to assume that so that, if and when they do not spend a lot of money on players, they cannot be blamed for making a choice. Theyd prefer you to believe they did everything within their power. Sure, there are limits to what teams can spend. But we dont know those limits because they wont tell us. Unless and until they do, they shouldnt get the benefit of the doubt. | https://sports.yahoo.com/white-sox-offering-anyone-ten-144134443.html?src=rss |
How Much Do NFL Players Make During the Playoffs? | NFL players are paid their yearly salaries on a weekly basis (aside from signing, roster and other bonuses) from the first game of the season through the last, including the team's bye week. Team payments and contracts end, however, with the regular season. During the postseason, players are paid by the league through a designated postseason fund as opposed to being paid by their individual teams. A handful of players have postseason incentives worked into their contract from their team, but most only recieve on league pay. The NFL pays every player on the 53-man active roster an identical amount per postseason appearance and/or win regardless of impact or performance. Once NFL player contracts become irrelevant, here are the per-player payouts this year, per the CBA. Wild Card RoundDivision Winner: $29,000 Wild Card Team: $27,000 Divisional Round: $29,000 Conference Championship: $54,000 Super Bowl Winner: $118,000 Super Bowl Loser: $59,000 Compared to the NFL's minimum salary for 2018, which was $480,000 for a rookie, the postseason payout from the league does not amount to much. Note that teams earning a bye week for the first roundthe Chiefs, Patriots, Saints and Rams this seasonare not paid for that week. Every played on the active roster, inactive list or on a franchise's injured reserve list at the time of a wild card game or divisional round will be paid the full amount designated. For conference championship games and the Super Bowl, the payout is more nuanced and depends on a player's most recent participation. | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/05/how-much-do-nfl-players-make-during-playoffs-postseason-payout |
Who replaces Ugochukwu Amadi in Oregon secondary, on punt returns? | EUGENE Oregon has to replace its leader in the secondary and top punt returner in Ugochukwu Amadi, but an heir apparent is already clear. Amadi was one of Oregons more productive players in the defensive backfield. He had 55 tackles with five for loss including 1.5 sacks, three interceptions with two returned for touchdowns, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble this season. The safety also averaged 15.93 yards per punt return, which wouldve ranked third nationally if he qualified statistically, with a touchdown. The good news for the Ducks is freshman Jevon Holland burst on the scene with 44 tackles, a team-high five interceptions and six pass breakups. Holland will clearly be in line to take over at Oregons starting free safety and should get a chance as a return man as well. He took reps on kickoff returns, another role Oregon has to fill, and fielded one punt this season. Whether or not Oregon would want a starter to handle both return roles is unclear, as its become increasingly rare for players to do both. With Holland set to move up a line on the depth chart there will be competition for the backup safety spots behind him and Nick Pickett. Brady Breeze had 10 tackles this season, Steve Stephens had two and Billy Gibson had one. Oregons lone safety signee is Trikweze Bridges, who tied the Alabama state record for career interceptions. One thing really stands out about 'kweze, its his length, safety coach Keith Heyward said. Hes a long, long dude. Huge wingspan. Hes 6-foot-3, hes about 185 pounds now. Hes a guy that (has a) high football IQ, super foundation of principles and values in the family home. Bridges will have to put on weight before being able to contribute consistently on defense and wont arrive on campus until after spring practice. | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/01/who-replaces-ugochukwu-amadi-in-oregon-secondary-on-punt-returns.html |
Does December's Manufacturing Growth Slowdown Spell Doom For The U.S. Economy? | Markets and pundits alike got jittery this week when the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Report on Business showed the December Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) falling to 54.1%, from Novembers 59.3%. Decembers figure was the lowest since November 2016. US stock indexes fell sharply when the report came out last Thursday, with the drop also linked to Apple slashing its quarterly revenue projections due to weak sales in Asia. Market bears and administration critics pounced on the news. Poor Administration policy regarding tariffs and trade wars may have accelerated a slowdown that was already likely, was the report at Seeking Alpha. Manufacturing ends 2018 on a decline, reports ISM, said the Supply Chain Management Review. First, take a deep breath and read more closely. Any PMI number above 50% indicates growth, not decline, in manufacturing output. Decembers number is the 28th consecutive one showing U.S. manufacturing growing, and the overall U.S. economy has now grown for 116 consecutive months. So those terms slowdown and decline in the quotes above are somewhat misleading. A drop in the rate of growth is still growth, not negative territory. Other economic indicators remain strongly positive. The ISMs Chicago Business Barometer, seen as a broad indicator of the nations economic health, turned in a strong 65.4% in December. Meanwhile, the U.S. December jobs report came out on Friday and helped erase the Thursday market declines the nation created 312,000 jobs last month, and the two previous months were revised upwards as well, for an average monthly pace of 254,000 jobs created. And manufacturing did especially well all year with respect to jobs, adding 284,000 in 2018 nearly 80,000 more than the previous year. Not all the news is good, however. One of the more troubling components of the December Report on Business is the New Orders Index. It was still positive, if barely, at 51.1% - but it decreased a full 11 percentage points from Novembers score. That indicates a dramatic weakening of customer demand, even if it was the 36th straight month in positive territory. It could be, too, that the economys recent strength is a mini-bubble caused by tariff-driven panic purchasing. Thats what Danielle DiMartino Booth, former advisor to the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve and current CEO of Quill Intelligence, a research and analytics firm, predicted several months ago. She correctly foresaw the economic strength of the past two months, but predicted a severe drop-off in the first quarter of next year. With inventory levels having risen over the past couple of months (albeit slowly), the scenario could very well play out that demand drops off as tariffs increase next year, and inventories then skyrocket, forcing manufacturing into actual negative territory as they slow production down to adjust to the new economic situation. One months decline in growth figures certainly doesnt constitute a trend, however. The PMI numbers have been bouncing up and down throughout 2018, hitting a high of 61.3% in August, and a previous low (excluding last months) of 57.3 in April. No movement in either direction lasted more than two months. So time will tell; look for next months figure to see if Decembers decline in growth continues. Even if Januarys figure is still in growth territory, another drop would be significant because of its continuation of last months steep decline. If the bears like DiMartino Booth are right, then by February the PMI should certainly go truly negative, and decline to below 50%. If neither of those things happen, then weve dodged the bullet for now. Because when it comes to the economy, the easy thing about predicting a recession is that eventually you'll be right. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2019/01/05/does-decembers-manufacturing-growth-slowdown-spell-doom-for-the-u-s-economy/ |
How Bad Is This Year's Flu Season? | Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Flu season has arrived: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity is widespread in 24 states, and during the last week of December, 4.1 percent of doctors visits across the U.S. were for flulike illnesses. Those numbers arent as high as they were for that week last year, when the percentage of doctors visits for flulike illness had already jumped to 5.8 and the flu was widespread in 46 states. Its a little bit too early to predict the intensity and magnitude of flu season for this year, says Pedro Piedra, M.D., a professor in the departments of molecular virology and microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. There are some hopeful signs, however. For one, the CDCs estimates of flu vaccination coverage as of November 2018 were several points higher than they were at the same time in 2017which means more people could be protected from flu this season. Still, flu season is far from over and could worsen in the coming weeks, says Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., an epidemiologist with the CDCs influenza division. There are still multiple weeks of flu season to go, she says. Heres how this flu season is shaping up, and how to protect yourself and your family. This Year's Flu Strain . . . so Far This time last year, most people with flu were getting sick from the H3N2 strain, which was a major factor in the severity of the 2017 to 2018 flu season. This year, a different strain is making most people sick: H1N1, the same strain that caused the flu pandemic in 2009. But because H1N1 has now been around for a decade, immunity against it has built up in the general public, says William Schaffner, M.D., professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. It generally causes milder infections than H3N2, he says. Plus, in recent years, the flu vaccine did a better job of protecting against H1N1 strains than against H3N2. What to know: While H3N2 is known for being especially dangerous for older adults (who are already at increased risk for severe illness from flu), H1N1 tends to be riskier for younger people, including children and young adultswho might not have been exposed to the strain enough to build up immunity to it, Schaffner says. In fact, so far this year, the highest rate of hospitalizations for flu has been among children 4 years old and younger, which is unusual. Typically, adults 65 and up experience the highest rates of hospitalization from flu, according to the CDC. Note that although H1N1 has predominated overall, in some states the H3N2 strain of flu is more prevalent. According to the CDC, its the most common strain in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. How to Protect Yourself Get a flu shot. You should run, not walk, to get your flu shot if you havent already, Schaffner says. It takes about two weeks for the shot to become fully protective. Be sure children get vaccinated, too. Every year, most kids who die from flu were unvaccinated. So far this year, 13 children have died from flu, and last year a total of 185 children died over the course of the flu season. And embrace easy strategies such as diligent hand-washing, keeping away from people who are coughing and sneezing if possible, and staying home if you do get sick. Consider antiviral medications. Most people who catch the flu get better on their own. But young children, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with an underlying health condition such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system are at an increased risk for a serious complication, such as pneumonia or having to be hospitalized, if they get sick with flu. If that includes you, call your doctor as soon as you notice flu symptomsfever, chills, head and body aches, cough, or sore throatand ask for a prescription for an antiviral medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu and generic) or the newly approved single dose antiviral baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza). Antiviral medications can reduce the length of time you feel sick by about a day and can reduce your chances of having a severe complication from flu. But they need to be taken within 48 hours of the onset of your symptoms for the best results. Interactive courtesy of the CDCMore from Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc. | https://news.yahoo.com/bad-apos-flu-season-203811803.html |
Can 'Spider-Verse' pull a historic upset at the Golden Globes? | If history is any predictor, then the Golden Globes trophy for 2018's best animated feature will be handed to Disney/Pixar's "Incredibles 2" during Sunday's telecast - winning in a field of five that includes Sony's late-year smash, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." That's because of the backstory: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Globes's voting body, adores its Disney. A movie distributed by Disney has been crowned best animated feature 10 times during the dozen years of the category's existence. (The only animated films that have beat the Mouse House are 2011's "The Adventures of Tintin" and 2014's "How to Train Your Dragon 2.") By contrast, during that time, animated films distributed beneath the Sony umbrella - including four involving Sony Pictures Animation - have gone 0-for-5. Advertisement But "Spider-Verse" is Sony's best shot yet to break the losing streak. First, factor in the critical response. Of Disney's two nominees this year, the "Incredibles" sequel has an average score of 80 on Metacritic.com, and Disney Animation's "Ralph Breaks the Internet" has a 71. "Spider-Verse" tops both with 87. (Of the other two nominees, the Fox Searchlight-distributed "Isle of Dogs" scores an 82, and Studio Chizu's "Mirai" gets an 81.) "Spider-Verse" is also tops on Rotten Tomatoes, where it's certified as 97 percent "fresh" among professional critics and gets a 94 percent score among civilian filmgoers. "Incredibles 2" was second with just 3,300 votes. Plus, "The Incredibles" is a beloved, Oscar-winning franchise that has grossed nearly $1.9 billion worldwide. ("Spider-Verse," which introduces webslinger Miles Morales, has grossed $227 million worldwide since its mid-December release.) So although the Pixar film would seem to have the edge, the dazzling, dizzying effects of "Spider-Verse" do make it a strong contender. "Spider-Verse" is a richly layered, visually innovative tour de force, delivering waves of tucked-in nods to a half-century of Spider-Man comic books specifically and Marvel Comics more generally - and popping off the screen with constant stylistic shifts and even splashes of "Kirby Krackle." The look of "Spider-Verse" should render it a powerful contender at the Oscars and the animation industry's Annie Awards. But if "Spider-Verse" can buck history and even win over the Hollywood Foreign Press, then it will emerge as The One to Beat at the Academy Awards, presuming that it's a lock for a nomination. And in one last twist, a win for "Spider-Verse" is also a win for production partner Marvel Entertainment - which, as it happens, is a subsidiary of Disney. | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12186219 |
What Does Donald Trump Think About When He Thinks About Wall? | Donald Trump has threatened to keep the government shut down for months, or even years, until he is allowed to build the Wall. The threat is typical of Trumps government by tantrum, in which he rules by promising to cut off his nose to spite his faceor, as we say in Russian, to freeze my ears off to spite my mother, an expression that invokes the more-fitting image of a teen-ager. Trumps latest fit tells us little new about the President. But it does provide a new measure of the place of the Wall, or, more and more frequently, simply Wall, in our politics. I first noticed the use of Wall without an article in a December 12th press release from the Department of Homeland Security titled Walls Work. This remarkable document appeared to be a cross between a war dispatch and a contractors sales pitch. It referenced both the Wall and miles of border wall, which seemed to turn the Wall from a physical object into a substance. A couple of weeks later, Trump told reporters that he gave out a hundred and fifteen miles worth of wall in Texas and promised, We are going to have great wall there. Wall was definitely losing its articles. On December 27th, Trump tweeted that in Israel the wall works 99.9%. I happened to be driving on Israeli roads that day. There was Wall everywherea lot more Wall, it seemed, than when I last visited, a year and a half ago. In one place the wall appeared to run not only along the road but also perpendicular to itself, forming a T-shape. The wall walled everything off from everywhere. Every side of the wall was the other side of the wall. This was Wall as a substance, not an objectas a malignancy that would expand until it choked the body that produced it. This may be what Trump means, after a fashion, when he says that the Israeli wall works. We know enough to know that he doesnt actually know anything about the Israeli wall, but he and the Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, are kindred spirits. Their love of Wall is infinite, like the wall itself. Of course it would be wall that would supplant what used to be politics and shut down the machinery of the American state. Trump loves the Wall and hates the government: these were the cornerstones of his election campaign and form the foundation of his world view. Shutting down the government in perpetuity is one way to drain the swamp. Wall becomes a lid that covers the swamp and suffocates it. Declaring a national emergency would be another way to use Wall to choke America. Trump apparently imagines that such a move would allow him to govern the way he thinks he wants to: by barking commands rather than by throwing tantrums. Technically, he probably wouldnt need to declare a national emergencythere are thirty states of emergency effective in the U.S. right now, many of them in effect for many years. (Presidents renew states of emergency annually, and though Congress is legally required to meet every six months to reassess a state of emergency, this has not happened since the relevant law was passed, in 1976.) States of emergency have already been used to enable grievous violations of peoples rightsas, for example, when the state of emergency declared after 9/11 (and renewed every year since) was used to make it possible to torture people captured in a war that had nothing to do with the attacks. In other words, Trump may not even need a new state of emergency to claim extraordinary Wall-related powers, but in his imagination he can create a national emergency thats all Wall all the time. Like all things imagined by Trump, Wall sets a trap. People who think of themselves as reasonable relentlessly point out that much of the Wall already exists, that building more Wall would not be an effective barrier against people trying to enter the country. This argument sets aside the fundamental immorality of the effort. The more thoughtful commentators note that people who have been trying to enter the country recently are asylum seekers, who wish to present themselves to American authorities rather than try to live in the U.S. without official status. Sometimes these commentators even remember that the right to seek asylum is guaranteed by international law with no requirement that asylum seekers enter at so-called ports of entrythe holes in the Wall that Trump and his D.H.S. want to plug up. But all of these arguments miss the point, because they address the issue of a physical wall rather than the immeasurable substance of Wall, which envelops all of us now. | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/what-does-donald-trump-think-about-when-he-thinks-about-wall |
Will Arizona lawmakers (again) try to kill the Electoral College? | Opinion: If enough states pass laws awarding their electoral college votes to the popular vote winner the arcane, racially motivated practice goes away. Protesters hold signs during a demonstration to protest the National Electoral College's selection of President-elect Donald Trump outside the Wilson Building in Washington. (Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo , EPA) Two years ago, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to eliminate the Electoral College. Its a great idea. Long overdue. The House passed a bill that would have given all of Arizonas 11 electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote no matter who wins the in-state vote. Both Democrats and Republicans voted for it. Twelve states already have passed similar laws, with a combined number of 165 electoral votes. When enough states pass such bills to equal 270 electoral votes it would guarantee that the popular vote winner would win the presidency. How to make every vote count CLOSE Here are 3 things you need to know about the electoral college. Wochit The website for National Popular Vote, which is pushing the interstate compact, says in part: The bill ensures that every vote, in every state, will matter in every presidential election. Exactly. The proposal passed in the Arizona House by a 40-16 margin, crossing political lines, but then-Senate President Andy Biggs would not let the bill come to a vote in the Senate. Maybe J.D. Mesnard, who introduced the bill back in 2016 and who now is in the Senate, will give it another go. He said in 2016, "Our presidential elections have come down to 10 battleground states. Arizona is so decidedly Republican that neither Democrats nor Republicans find it necessary or beneficial to campaign here. Arizona's issues are ignored because Arizona voters don't matter." Trump wanted to abolish it, until ... Every vote, Republican or Democrat or anything else, should matter. Before he ran for president, Donald Trump loved the idea of abolishing the Electoral College. For a time during the 2012 presidential election it appeared as if Republican Mitt Romney might win the popular vote but lose in the electoral college. That didnt happen. President Obama beat Romney by roughly 2.5 million in the popular vote. When it looked like Romney might get more votes, however, then citizen Trump tweeted: Lets fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice! The world is laughing at us. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 And: This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 And: The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012 The Washington Post also catalogued a number of tweets that Trump later deleted, which included: He [Obama] lost the popular vote by a lot and won the election. We should have a revolution in this country! And: The phoney [sic] electoral college made a laughing stock out of our nation. The loser one! And: More votes equals a lossrevolution! (Nov. 7) ... he needed the Electoral College Somehow, that very strong view changed for Trump after Hillary Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes than he did in the presidential election but lost to him in the electoral college. After that happened Trump tweeted: The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2016 Actually, the Electoral College came into effect in the 1800s under the influence of southern states like Virginia, which demanded that their slaves who could not vote be counted among their population. Not as individuals, exactly. The proposal to create the Electoral College included the three-fifths compromise, by which each slave was counted as three-fifths of a person, instead of a whole. Imagine that. It was enough to prop up the electoral college numbers for slave states like Virginia and tilt the presidency their way. How to make Arizona relevant In other words, the Electoral College is an arcane, racist conceit. Not only that, but the notion that smaller states come into play by way of the Electoral College is a joke. Its the so-called battleground states that come into play while other states are ignored. The only way to stage a free and fair national presidential election is to have every vote in every state matter. Then every state would be a battleground. The Arizona House recognized that in 2016. Maybe this year the entire Legislature will do so. Reach Montini at [email protected]. MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/05/arizona-electoral-college-national-popular-vote/2479675002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/05/arizona-electoral-college-national-popular-vote/2479675002/ |
Who are the Golden Girls of Prospect Cemetery and why did they decide to spend eternity together? | Most people are buried along with their spouses, their children, perhaps even the family dog. But when Pauline Chorna, Annie Hrynchak, Anna Baran and Nellie Handiak died over the span of three decades, they did not waver in their plan. The four women are exactly where they wanted to be, buried shoulder-to-shoulder under a pink granite tombstone that lists their names beneath a single word: FRIENDS. Under the shade of a white oak, the unexpected inscription has become a landmark of sorts for the joggers and dog walkers who frequent Prospect Cemetery, a reason to pause and contemplate the stories buried beneath their feet. The pink granite tombstone at Prospect Cemetery marks the final resting place of four women who were best friend in life and proclaims that they are forever friends in death. ( Rick Madonik / Toronto Star ) While the women are far from Prospects most famous residents the cemetery is the eternal home of the Group of Sevens J.E.H. MacDonald, after all they represent one of its more unusual internments and, arguably, Torontos most enduring friendship. Their communal gravestone is also a mystery to be solved. Friends these seven letters explain the connection but reveal so little about the four women who chose to be forever defined by this word. Article Continued Below For the Golden Girls of Prospect Cemetery, their stories began more than 7,500 kilometres outside of Toronto, in the pastoral villages that dot the verdant foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountain range begins in western Slovakia and arcs through Poland and Ukraine before tapering off in Romania. Canadians who have never heard of the region would at least recognize its most famous son; when Andy Warhol used to say I come from nowhere, the truth was his family the Varholas hailed from Mikova, a Carpathian hamlet located in present-day Slovakia. People from Warhols nowhere might call themselves Ruthenians, Rusyns, Carpatho-Rusyns, or Carpatho-Russians and in the early 20th century, there was a mass migration to North America, spurred by bleak economic conditions back home. Between the early 1920s and the Great Depression, some 15,000 to 20,000 immigrants from the Carpathian Mountains settled in Canada, with the vast majority in southern Ontario, according to University of Toronto historian Paul Robert Magocsi. Most came from the Lemko region that was then part of Poland, including a young Anna Baran. Back then, she was still Anna Hulik and passed her days tending her fathers sheep in their tiny village. When she decided to pursue a better life in North America, her father likely went to a moneylender to borrow the $300 or $400 needed for the overseas journey, according to her son, William Baran, who is now 86. Baran doesnt know when or where his mother first met the three women with whom she would eventually share a grave. Hes heard that maybe they met on the same ship bound for Canada but Nellie Handiaks daughter, Jeannie Lindo, is skeptical of this theory. As far as she knows, her mother was sponsored by her brother to come to Canada in 1929, landing in Kapuskasing before relocating to Winnipeg, where she married her first husband. They had two children and eventually settled on a 14-acre fruit farm near Hamilton. Article Continued Below But when Lindo was 5 or so, her father suffered severe heat stroke from which he never recovered and died a decade later. Handiak continued running the farm single-handedly, even after she remarried in 1954 and moved to Toronto. For a couple of years before she sold it, she used to go there every weekend to work, Lindo recalls. She made me what I am today, independent as heck. She was a very strong woman. Annie Hrynchak (third from the left in front row), Nellie Handiak (centre, with her hands on the table) and Anna Baran (second from the right) are shown in an archival photo of the women who often cooked meals for the Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians, which regularly held dances and other events at its hall on Queen St. W. ( Supplied ) The four friends were all made from strong stock. We used to say about baba: strong like bull, recalls Barans granddaughter, Jo-Ann. Baran once described how Lemko immigrants were driven overseas by extreme economic hardship, only to arrive in Canada on the cusp of the Great Depression, where they struggled with unemployment and rampant racist discrimination. Coming to Canada we did not find what we all hoped for at all work, money and a better life, she wrote in a 1964 article excerpted in a book called From the Carpathian Mountains to Canada. It was very hard for our immigrants to cope with this situation in a foreign country. She described how Lemko girls became servants in homes with very little compensation and workers organized strikes or protests that occasionally erupted into riots, where police beat up the marchers viciously. The most desperate among them travelled across Canada by jumping onto the roofs of freight trains, in search of better work. Our men called them riding the rabbits, Baran wrote. For Baran, her own difficulties came to a head in 1938. She had married Matthew Baran in Saskatchewan, a man who loved cars so much he started a taxi business when they moved to Toronto. Matthew opened an office near Queen St. W. and Bathurst St., where he set up a cot, his son recalls; when the phone rang, he would dash into the night and pick up his fare. On April 1, 1938, Baran was driving his taxi on Lakeshore Rd. when he crashed into a lamppost and the steering wheel crushed his chest, breaking his ribs and likely puncturing his lungs. Police charged him with reckless driving but he died a week later at the age of 39. Anna Baran found herself widowed and the single mother of two children under 5. Her husband had been driving two passengers when he crashed and they decided to sue. She had nothing, her son recalls. They cleaned everything out. He remembers this as an impoverished time of eating a lot of macaroni and milk. His mother eventually found work cleaning boxcars at the CN railyard and he remembers spotting her occasionally on his way to Fort York, where he and his friends played cops and robbers. Leaning over the Bathurst St. bridge, he would see his mother below, her pushcart filled with brooms and Annie Hrynchak by her side the same woman who would eventually be buried next to his mother at Prospect Cemetery. Baran says his mother was the godmother of Hrynchaks only son, Bill, who died in 2014. The Star couldnt reach Hrynchaks surviving relatives but Baran remembers a woman every bit as strong and stern as his mother. Lindo, who knew Hrynchak later in life, recalls a refined woman always dressed to the nines full makeup, earrings, everything. Pauline Chorna (seated with the baby), is shown with her first husband and an unidentified woman in this undated photo. ( Courtesy of Steve Kobelyk ) Neither Baran nor Lindo remember much about Pauline Chorna, the fourth woman buried with their mothers. According to the tombstone inscriptions, Chorna was the first to die in 1977; she was also the oldest of the four women, born in 1900. Her obituary said she had one son, Walter, and two grandsons. One of them, Steven Kobelyk, said his father died last year and he personally doesnt know much about his baba, though he believes she immigrated to Canada in the 30s with her husband, Frank. In Canada, Frank met another woman so the couple split. But Frank had a friend named Mike Tychanych, who worked in the upholstery business and took a shine to Pauline. He asked his permission (to date her), Kobelyk says. And then it was OK. So Pauline and her new beau moved in together at 615 Dufferin St., a house they eventually shared with Chornas son and his French-Canadian partner, Cecile. Cecile Kobelyk, 91, remembers her former mother-in-law as very tiny and cute. Baba was a good woman, she says. She was as sweet as can be. But even though they lived together for years, the two women barely talked; Chorna only spoke her mother tongue, which Kobelyk believes to be Ukrainian. She said my name, Cece, but she never spoke English, she remembers.We just looked at each other and knew what the other was saying. Kobelyk had broken up with Walter by the time Chorna died but she knows her former mother-in-law was buried in Prospect Cemetery with three other women. The reasoning behind the unusual decision is a mystery to her, however. She never knew Chornas friends, just that she had a community she clearly cared about. When Kobelyk thinks back to life with her former mother-in-law, she pictures an aproned Chorna in the kitchen, bent over a pot of boiling water. Every Saturday, Chorna made endless pierogies stuffed with cheese and mashed potato, while Kobelyk sat at the kitchen table and closed each one, pinching and pinching until her thumbs were sore. But most of this food was taken elsewhere to be eaten, by people Kobelyk didnt know. Their home at 615 Dufferin was never the epicentre of Chornas social scene; that would have been another building, which Kobelyk never visited herself. There wasnt many people coming to the house, she says. They always met at the hall. Story Behind the Story delivers insights into how the Star investigates, reports, and produces stories. The hall was tucked inside a three-storey building most Torontonians have likely passed on their travels downtown, without realizing it was once the bustling cultural home for an obscure Central European community. Built in 1881, the original ground-floor tenant of 280 Queen St. W. was Maras Groceries and Liquors, the first store to display its wares behind plate-glass windows, according to Toronto Architecture: A City Guide. The ornate Queen Anne-style building has since housed a menswear store, bookstore, the production team behind the CBC drama Street Legal and according to the book, Haunted Toronto a ghost so malicious and evil it caused four tenants to flee their upper-floor apartments. Today, 280 Queen is home to one of the 60-plus locations of fashion retailer Aritzia, a bona fide success story of Canadian capitalism that reported a net revenue of $743.3 million in the 2018 fiscal year. But the building is currently owned by a fervently communist society, the kind that once hung portraits of Stalin and Lenin on its walls and hosted dignitaries from the former Soviet Union in its ballroom. Around the corner from Aritzias gleaming window displays, there is a side door with a sign that reads Friendship House. A directory lists several tenants, including the Canadian Friends of Soviet People, but property records show the building is owned by the Alexander Duchnovych Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians. According to the book From the Carpathian Mountains to Canada, which was published by the Alexander Duchnovych Society, the organization was incorporated in 1982 by a dozen executive members. They include three of the four friends buried together at Prospect Cemetery Anna Baran, Annie Hrynchak and Nellie Handiak (who, at that point, went by her married surname, Drotarowska) and Mike Tychanych, the partner of Pauline Chorna. The books author is still alive, but his son, Michael Lucas Jr. one of the societys current directors, according to corporate records declined interview requests on his fathers behalf. But in his book, Lucas explains the society went through several iterations and locations before it was decided they needed a cultural home specifically for Carpatho-Russians. According to records at the City of Toronto Archives, they took ownership of 280 Queen in 1950, when the property value was assessed at $20,250. Suffice to say, the building has since appreciated considerably; a much smaller building down the street recently sold for $7.8 million. The society once boasted 247 members and 38 per cent belonged to the Communist Party, Lucas wrote. While his book covers a lot of ground from the history of Carpatho-Russians to descriptions of the societys cultural activities a prominent theme is a love for the former U.S.S.R. Lucas describes the breakup of the Soviet Union as temporary and refers to Mikhail Gorbachev, the countrys final leader, as the second coming of Judas. Socialism is and will be the future for all the human race! he wrote in one section. On a webpage dedicated to Lucas 80th birthday, a magazine called Northstar Compass described a celebration at 280 Queen where birthday greetings were read aloud by Lucas, including from then-prime minister Steven (sic) Harper, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion and Vladimir Putin. We highly appreciate your sincere contribution to the promotion of friendship, mutual understanding and bringing together of people of our two countries, reads the message signed by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation. Annie Hrynchak (left) and Anna Baran (centre,) are shown in a photo taken during the 35th anniversary of the Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians. ( Society of Carpatho-Russian Canadians ) The Carpatho-Russian identity is one that is deeply complex and divided along religious, national and political lines, according to historian Magocsi, who chairs U of Ts Ukrainian Studies department and is of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. While Carpatho-Russians speak a language related to Ukrainian, and come from an area Ukrainians consider within their ethnolinguistic boundaries, many actively reject identification as Ukrainians, Magocsi wrote in his 1999 book, Of the Making of Nationalities There is No End. Their poverty-stricken conditions in Canada also led to strong anti-clerical left-wing political and social attitudes, he wrote, as well as an affinity for the Soviet Union, the worlds first workers state. For their part, many Ukrainian-Canadians and other immigrants from the region regarded the politics of these Soviet-loving Carpathians with disdain. In his book, Lucas recalls how he was closing up the Queen St. hall one night when he spotted a tall man sitting alone. Before I could duck, he threw a chair at me breaking my sax and violin to pieces, yelling I shall kill you, you communist bastard! Lucas wrote, later complaining the man was only reprimanded with 30 hours of community work because the judge understood why this Polish patriot would want to fight against communism. For some, this communist orientation was alienating and younger Carpatho-Russians turned away from the community. When it comes to the four friends of Prospect Cemetery, their children who spoke to the Star all identified as Ukrainian. Some also distanced their mothers from the societys communist leanings. Lindo says her mothers main attraction to the hall was its many concerts, dances and social gatherings and, of course, her friends. I often said to my mother, What are you doing in a communist place? she recalls. She said its not a communist place, its a social club. According to Lucas book, Anna Baran appears to have been the most politically active at the society, where she was the head of the womens section. Her granddaughter remembers how her baba loved vacationing in Cuba and had a fondness for Fidel Castro, but says she also used to bristle whenever she was teased for being a red. Shed get mad. Dont call me red! Jo-Ann Baran laughs. When asked about his mothers political leanings, William Baran says one story springs to mind. In the winter after his father died, the family was living on welfare with no coal to heat the furnace of their Denison Ave. row house. His mother begged several politicians for help but only one came through. He remembers hearing a loud noise one day and running to the basement, where coal was pouring in through the window. She had asked Tim Buck of the Communist Party and told him the problem, he says. And he sent the coal in. Baran agrees, however, that his mothers main attraction to 280 Queen was the community she found there. She and her friends spent every Saturday at the hall, first cooking up a feast of pierogies, cabbage rolls and meat-on-a-stick, and then dancing into the wee hours of the night. Whenever the women came over, the house would fill with their raucous laughter and occasional bickering over whose village back home was superior. They liked fun, I could tell you that, he says. Theyd always be singing; I guess it made them feel like they were back in the old country. We even had an old dog called Blackie and he would howl when they were all singing together. They were best friends. In the late 60s, Lindo was living in Bermuda when her mother called and broke the news. She said, You dont have to worry about paying for my funeral, she recalls. She told me they went to Prospect Cemetery, her, Annie, Anna Baran, and Pauline, and they bought a cemetery plot. I said, Youve got to be kidding. And she goes, Oh, we got that too. ( Rick Madonik / Toronto Star ) When Lindo asked why, her mothers answer was: cards. Aside from their dances at the hall, the womens favourite activity was playing cards together, especially a game called hola. It was like a rummy game, because theyd go bang bang bang bang bang bang then someone would lose, Baran recalls. They loved playing cards so much, in fact, they never wanted to stop so when they died, they would be buried together and continue playing in the afterlife. Lindo found this hilarious. I was quite taken aback, she says. My mother was old-fashioned to a point. But they were so forward thinking that they decided to forget their children and grandchildren and whatever, she continued. They said, Were just gonna do this, and they did. Lindo doesnt know which of the four came up with the crazy idea but suspects her mother and according to cemetery records, shes right. On Oct. 9, 1968, Nellie Handiak purchased a plot at Prospect Cemetery for herself and three other women, with the specific request they be buried side by side, not stacked on top of each other like in other shared graves. But only nine years passed before the plot received its first internment, Pauline Chorna, who died on Jan. 30, 1977. Annie Hrynchak was next, passing away on Feb. 6, 1993, followed by Anna Baran, on Feb. 6, 1996. Nellie Handiak was the last to go, spending a full decade without her friends before dying on June 22, 2006, at the age of 97. Nearly four decades had gone by since Handiak bought the plot with her three best friends. It was lonely (towards the end), because all her friends were gone, Lindo says. As radical as it was for the times, nobody in the family was upset by the womens decision to be buried together, William Baran says. They went through a hard time in life and they relied on one another to help each other, to make life more livable, he says. And they decided to maintain that relationship through death. To find the women today, pass through the cemeterys white gates on the north side of Rogers Rd. and follow the gentle curve of the road to section 21, where theyre wedged between the Mills and Wasendas. There, they will always be, four friends playing cards. Before the final burial of these forever friends of Prospect Cemetery, Handiaks daughter fulfilled one of her mothers last requests: She slipped a deck of cards into her casket. With files from Toronto Star library | https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/05/the-golden-girls-of-prospect-cemetery.html |
Was it a UFO, meteor . . . or an out-of-control Russian satellite? | According to a local expert the object seen flying through our sky last night was probably the remains of a Russian satellite - and it there's a chance a small part of it might be sitting in someone's backyard. Thousands of excited Kiwis from Whangarei to Nelson quickly took to social media last night to post pictures and video of the bright object that streaked through our dusk sky, and then seemed to disappear. There's been much speculation since then about what the object was - and what happened to it once it vanished from view - but according to a leading space expert it was almost certainly the remains of an out-of-control Russian missile defence satellite. Advertisement Theoretical cosmologist Professor Richard Easther, the head of physics at the University of Auckland, said he was 99 per cent certain that it was the Russian Kosmos 2430 satellite - and that the Russians appear to have lost control of it. He said it was among several satellites sent up to Earth orbit by Russia to protect against missile attacks, primarily by the United States. "The US has a similar constellation of satellites." Easther said it conceivable that some of the satellite, which had weighed nearly 2 tonnes, had survived the intense heat of its dive through the atmosphere and landed in someone's backyard. The kinds of debris to look for would be large chunks of glass or scorched metal. Easther said several satellites returned to Earth each year. Notable ones included the US Skylab and a Russian satellite that contaminated part of Canada. Debris from Skylab was found in Western Australia after the US space station crashed back to Earth in 1979. The previous year, the Soviet reconnaissance satellite Kosmos 954 scattered radioactive debris over northern Canada when it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. A fault before re-entry had prevented the safe separation of its onboard nuclear reactor. Easther said Kosmos 2430 was known to be passing over New Zealand at the time of the bright object last night. The proof that it was the cause would be in sky watchers reporting its absence. If it had been a controlled descent, it would have been manoeuvred to splash into the Southern Ocean. The fact its re-entry occurred over New Zealand implied that "the Russians lost control of it". | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12186248 |
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